SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
X Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002 or
_____ Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from _______________ to _______________
Commission file number 1-9356
Delaware 23-2432497 ------------------------------- ------------------- (State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 5 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 500 100 Matsonford Road Radnor, PA 19087 --------------------------------- ---------- (Address of principal executive (Zip Code) offices) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 484-232-4000
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class Outstanding at April 18, 2002 ------------------------- ----------------------------- Limited Partnership Units 26,924,546 Units |
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P. INDEX Page No. Part I. Financial Information Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2002 and 2001 1 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001 2 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2002 and 2001 3 Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 4-9 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 10-13 IItem 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 14 Part II. Other Information Item 5. Other Information 14 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 15-16 |
Part I - Financial Information
Buckeye Partners, L.P. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (In thousands, except per unit amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, -------------------- 2002 2001 ---- ---- Revenue $56,891 $54,417 ------- ------- Costs and expenses Operating expenses 25,938 24,720 Depreciation and amortization 5,147 4,839 General and administrative expenses 3,759 3,005 ------- ------- Total costs and expenses 34,844 32,564 ------- ------- Operating income 22,047 21,853 ------- ------- Other income (expenses) Investment income 538 271 Interest expense (5,240) (4,546) Minority interests and other (2,920) (2,655) ------- ------- Total other income (expenses) (7,622) (6,930) ------- ------- Net income $14,425 $14,923 ======= ======= Net income allocated to General Partner $ 130 $ 134 Net income allocated to Limited Partners $14,295 $14,789 Earnings per Partnership Unit - basic: Net income allocated to General and Limited Partners per Partnership Unit $ 0.53 $ 0.55 Earnings per Partnership Unit - Assuming dilution: Net income allocated to General and Limited Partners per Partnership Unit $ 0.53 $ 0.55 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
Buckeye Partners, L.P. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands) (Unaudited) March 31, December 31, 2002 2001 ---- ---- Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 7,846 $ 12,946 Trade receivables 14,032 13,753 Inventories 7,789 7,591 Prepaid and other current assets 17,473 13,441 -------- -------- Total current assets 47,140 47,731 Property, plant and equipment, net 671,880 670,439 Other non-current assets 88,540 89,390 -------- -------- Total assets $807,560 $807,560 ======== ======== Liabilities and partners' capital Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 2,611 $ 7,416 Accrued and other current liabilities 21,924 24,885 -------- -------- Total current liabilities 24,535 32,301 Long-term debt 383,000 373,000 Minority interests 3,319 3,307 Other non-current liabilities 46,248 46,056 -------- -------- Total liabilities 457,102 454,664 -------- -------- Commitments and contingent liabilities - - Partners' capital General Partner 2,812 2,834 Limited Partners 348,641 351,057 Receivable from exercise of options (995) (995) -------- -------- Total partners' capital 350,458 352,896 -------- -------- Total liabilities and partners' capital $807,560 $807,560 ======== ======== |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
Buckeye Partners, L.P. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents (In thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, -------------------- 2002 2001 ---- ---- Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $14,425 $14,923 ------- ------- Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 5,147 4,839 Minority interests 211 251 Change in assets and liabilities: Trade receivables (279) 256 Inventories (198) (249) Prepaid and other current assets (4,032) 869 Accounts payable (4,805) (2,845) Accrued and other current liabilities (2,961) (2,979) Other non-current assets (384) 198 Other non-current liabilities 192 315 ------- ------- Total adjustments from operating activities (7,109) 655 ------- ------- Net cash provided by operating activities 7,316 15,578 ------- ------- Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (5,366) (7,488) Net proceeds from (expenditures for) disposal of property, plant and equipment 12 (100) ------- ------- Net cash used in investing activities (5,354) (7,588) ------- ------- Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from exercise of unit options 115 144 Distributions to minority interests (199) (188) Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 10,000 - Payment of long-term debt - (10,000) Distributions to Unitholders (16,978) (16,258) ------- ------- Net cash used in financing activities (7,062) (26,302) ------- ------- Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (5,100) (18,312) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 12,946 32,216 ------- ------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 7,846 $13,904 ======= ======= Supplemental cash flow information: Cash paid during the period for interest (net of amount capitalized) $ 5,268 $5,390 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
1.BASIS OF PRESENTATION
In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Buckeye Partners, L.P. (the "Partnership"), which are unaudited except that the Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2001 is derived from audited financial state ments, include all adjustments necessary to present fairly the Partnership's financial position as of March 31, 2002 and the results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2002 and 2001 and cash flows for the three month period ended March 31, 2002 and 2001. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2002 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2002.
Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P., Laurel Pipe Line Company, L.P, Everglades Pipe Line Company, L.P. and Buckeye Pipe Line Holdings, L.P. (formerly Buckeye Tank Terminals, L.P.). are referred to collectively as the "Operating Partnerships".
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and notes normally included with financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.
2. ACQUISITIONS
On July 31, 2001, the Partnership acquired a pipeline system and related terminals from affiliates of TransMontaigne Inc. for a total purchase price of $61,750,000. Additional costs incurred in connection with the acquisition amounted to $533,000. The assets included a 482-mile refined petroleum products pipeline that runs from Hartsdale, Indiana west to Fort Madison, Iowa and east to Toledo, Ohio, with an 11-mile pipeline connection between major storage terminals in Hartsdale and East Chicago, Indiana. The assets also included 3.2 million barrels of pipeline storage and trans-shipment facilities in Hartsdale and East Chicago, Indiana and Toledo, Ohio; and four truck rack product terminals located in Bryan, Ohio; South Bend and Indianapolis, Indiana; and Peoria, Illinois. The pipeline system is operated under the name of Norco Pipe Line Co., LLC ("Norco"). The terminal assets became part of Buckeye Terminals, LLC's operations. The pipeline system and related terminals are collectively referred to as the "Norco Assets" or "Norco Operations". The allocated fair value of assets acquired is summarized as follows:
(In thousands) -------------- Pipe inventory $ 688 Property, plant and equipment 61,595 ------- Total $62,283 ======= |
Pro forma results of operations for the Partnership, assuming the acquisition of the Norco Assets had occurred at the beginning of the period indicated below, are as follows:
(Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2001 --------------------------------- (In thousands, except per Unit amounts) Revenue $58,278 Net income $15,379 Earnings per Partnership Unit $ 0.57 Earnings per Partnership Unit - excluding amortization of goodwill $ 0.58 |
The unaudited pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations which actually would have resulted had the combination been in effect at the beginning of the periods presented, or of future results of operations of the entities. The Norco acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting.
3. SEGMENT INFORMATION
During the first quarter 2002 and 2001, the Partnership had one business segment, the transportation segment. The transportation segment derives its revenues primarily from the transportation of refined petroleum products that it receives from refineries, connecting pipelines and marine terminals. Revenues from the transportation segment are, for the most part, subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or are under contract.
4. CONTINGENCIES
The Partnership and its subsidiaries (the "Operating Partnerships") in the ordinary course of business are involved in various claims and legal proceedings, some of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance. Buckeye Pipe Line Company (the "General Partner") is unable to predict the timing or outcome of these claims and proceedings. Although it is possible that one or more of these claims or proceedings, if adversely determined, could, depending on the relative amounts involved, have a material effect on the Partnership for a future period, the General Partner does not believe that their outcome will have a material effect on the Partnership's consolidated financial condition or annual results of operations.
Environmental
Various claims for the cost of cleaning up releases of hazardous substances and for damage to the environment resulting from the activities of the Operating Partnerships or their predecessors have been asserted and may be asserted in the future under various federal and state laws. The General Partner believes that the generation, handling and disposal of hazardous substances by the Operating Partnerships and their predecessors have been in material compliance with applicable environmental and regulatory requirements. The total potential remediation costs to be borne by the Operating Partnerships relating to these clean-up sites cannot be reasonably estimated and could be material. With respect to certain sites, however, the Operating Partnership involved is one of several or as many as several hundred potentially responsible parties that would share in the total costs of clean- up under the principle of joint and several liability. Although the Partnership has made a provision for certain legal expenses relating to environmental matters, the General Partner is unable to determine the timing or outcome of any pending proceedings or of any future claims and proceedings.
5. LONG-TERM DEBT
As of March 31, 2002, the Partnership had $240 million of Senior Notes outstanding. The Senior Notes are scheduled to mature in the period 2020 to 2024 and bear interest from 6.89 percent to 6.98 percent.
During September and October 2001, the Partnership entered into a $277.5 million 5-year Revolving Credit Agreement and an $92.5 million 364-day Revolving Credit Agreement (the "Credit Facilities") with a syndicate of banks led by SunTrust Bank. These Credit Facilities permit borrowings of up to $370 million subject to certain limitations contained in the Credit Facility agreements. Borrowings bear interest at the bank's base rate or at a rate based on the London interbank rate ("LIBOR") at the option of the Partnership. At March 31, 2002, the Partnership had borrowed $143 million under the 5-year Revolving Credit Agreement at an average weighted LIBOR pricing option rate of 2.92 percent. The Credit Facility agreements contain certain covenants that affect the Partnership. Generally, the Credit Facility (a) limits outstanding indebtedness of the Partnership based upon certain financial ratios contained in the Credit Facility agreements (b) prohibit the Partnership from creating or incurring certain liens on its property, (c) prohibit the Partnership from disposing of property which is material to its operations, (d) limits consolidation, merger and asset transfers by the Partnership and (e) requires the Partnership to maintain at least one investment grade credit rating (BBB-, Baa3 or greater) from S&P or Moody's. Concurrent with the above transaction, Buckeye repaid all borrowings outstanding under its $100 million Credit Agreement with First Union National Bank ("First Union") and its $30 million Loan Agreement with First Union. Those agreements were terminated with the repayment of the borrowings.
The fair value of the Partnership's debt is estimated to be $377 million and $372 million as of March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, respectively. The values at March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001 were calculated using interest rates currently available to the Partnership for issuance of debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.
6. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Effective January 1, 2002, the Partnership adopted SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," which establishes financial accounting and reporting for acquired goodwill and other intangible assets. Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are no longer amortized but are reviewed at least annually for impairment. Intangible assets that have finite useful lives will continue to be amortized over their useful lives.
SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at least annually utilizing a two-step methodology. The initial step requires the Partnership to determine the fair value of each of its reporting units and compare it to the carrying value, including goodwill, of such reporting unit. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no impairment loss is recognized. However, a carrying value that exceeds its fair value, may be an indication of impaired goodwill. The amount, if any, of the impairment would then be measured and an impairment loss would be recognized.
In connection with adopting this standard, the Partnership will continue to evaluate the fair value of each of its reporting units and determine if any adjustments to goodwill are required by June 30, 2002.
The following represents a pro-forma restatement of 2001 as if SFAS No. 142 had been adopted at the beginning of the year and that goodwill amortization had been eliminated. The impact on net income, and basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2001 is set forth below:
Reported net income $14,923 Adjustment for amortization of goodwill 202 ------- Adjusted net income $15,125 ======= Reported basic earnings per Unit $ 0.55 Adjustment for amortization of goodwill 0.01 ------- Adjusted basic earnings per Unit $ 0.56 ======= Reported diluted earnings per Unit $ 0.55 Adjustment for amortization of goodwill 0.01 ------- Adjusted diluted earnings per Unit $ 0.56 ======= |
The Partnership's amortizable intangible assets consist of pipeline rights-of- way and contracts. The contracts were acquired in connection with the acquisition of Buckeye Gulf Coast Pipe Lines, LLC in March 1999. At March 31, 2002, the gross carrying amount of the pipeline rights-of-way was $25,402,000 and accumulated amortization was $2,748,000. At March 31, 2002, the gross carrying amount of the contracts was $3,600,000 and accumulated amortization was $720,000. Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $187,000 and $176,00 for the three month periods ended March 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Estimated aggregate amortization expense related to intangible assets is estimated to be $748,000 per year for each of the next five years.
The Partnership's only intangible asset not subject to amortization is goodwill that was recorded in connection with the acquisition of Buckeye Terminals, LLC in June 2000. The gross carrying amount of the goodwill is $12,608,000. Accumulated amortization of the goodwill was $1,253,000 at March 31, 2002.
7. PARTNERS' CAPITAL
Partners' capital consists of the following:
Receivable General Limited from Exercise Partner Partners of Options Total ------- -------- ------------- ----- (In thousands) Partners' Capital - 1/1/02 $2,834 $351,057 $(995) $352,896 Net income 130 14,295 - 14,425 Distributions (152) (16,826) - (16,978) Exercise of unit options - 115 - 115 ------ -------- ----- -------- Partners' Capital - 3/31/02 $2,812 $348,641 $(995) $350,458 ====== ======== ===== ======== |
The following is a reconciliation of basic and dilutive income from continuing operations per Partnership Unit for the three month period ended March 31:
Three Months Ended March 31, ------------------------------------------------- 2002 2001 --------------------- --------------------- Income Units Per Income Units Per (Numer- (Denomi- Unit (Numer- (Denomi- Unit ator) nator) Amount ator) nator) Amount ------- -------- ------ ------- -------- ------ (in thousands, except per unit amounts) Income from continuing operations $14,425 $14,923 ------- ------- Basic earnings per Partnership Unit 14,425 27,167 $0.53 14,923 27,095 $0.55 Effect of dilutive securities - options - 62 - - 75 - ------- ------ ----- ------- ------ ----- Diluted earnings per Partnership Unit $14,425 27,229 $0.53 $14,923 27,170 $0.55 ======= ====== ===== ======= ====== ===== |
Options reported as dilutive securities are related to unexercised options outstanding under the Partnership's Unit Option Plan.
8. CASH DISTRIBUTIONS
The Partnership will generally make quarterly cash distributions of substantially all of its available cash, generally defined as consolidated cash receipts less consolidated cash expenditures and such retentions for working capital, anticipated cash expenditures and contingencies as the General Partner deems appropriate.
The Partnership declared a cash distribution of $0.625 per unit payable on May 31, 2002 to Unitholders of record on May 6, 2002. The total distribution will amount to approximately $16,980,000.
9. RELATED PARTY ACCRUED CHARGES
Accrued and other current liabilities include $2,853,000 and $6,552,000 due the General Partner as of March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, respectively.
10. ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 2001, the FASB issued two new pronouncements: SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations", and SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets". SFAS 141 prohibits the use of the pooling-of-interest method for business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 and also applies to all business combinations accounted for by the purchase method that are completed after June 30, 2001. The Norco acquisition was accounted for in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 141. SFAS 142 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 with respect to all goodwill and other intangible assets recognized in an entity's statement of financial position at that date, regardless of when those assets were initially recognized. The Partnership's goodwill of $11,355,000 will no longer be subject to amortization beginning in 2002. (See Note 6)
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143 "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations". SFAS No. 143, addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. SFAS No. 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. The Partnership is currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS 143.
In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets". SFAS 144 addresses the financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. SFAS 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. The adoption of SFAS 144 did not have a material impact on the Partnership's financial statements.
11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On May 1, 2002, an Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement (the "Amended Exchange Agreement"), among the Partnership, the Operating Partnerships, Buckeye Pipe Line Company (the "General Partner" of the Partnership), Buckeye Management Company and Glenmoor, Ltd., ("Glenmoor") was approved in accordance with the terms of the Partnership's Limited Partnership Agreement. The Amended Exchange Agreement, which is designed to better align the interests of the General Partner and the Partnership, was approved by the Board of Directors of Buckeye Pipe Line Company based upon a recommendation of a special committee of disinterested directors of the Board. The principal change reflected in the Amended Exchange Agreement was the elimination of the forfeiture payment provision contained in the original Exchange Agreement. The Amended Exchange Agreement also includes certain definitional and other minor changes.
As a condition of entering into the Amended Exchange Agreement, Glenmoor, Ltd., the parent corporation of the General Partner, and the Partnership entered into an Acknowledgement and Agreement under which Glenmoor acknowledged and agreed that any tax liabilities of Glenmoor resulting from the Amended Exchange Agreement were the responsibility of Glenmoor and its subsidiaries and not the Partnership and that any funds borrowed by Glenmoor from third party lenders to pay those tax liabilities would be the responsibility of Glenmoor and its subsidiaries and not the Partnership.
The foregoing description is qualified entirely by reference to the Amended Exchange Agreement and the Acknowledgement and Agreement, each dated as of May 6, 2002, filed as Exhibits to this Report.
Separately, on April 24, 2002 at the meeting of the Board of Directors of Buckeye Pipe Line Company, the Board approved an Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement for the Partnership reflecting a change in the Partnership's principal office, certain recent Delaware law developments relating to the resolution of conflicts of interest, and revisions to the indemnification provisions. The amendments were approved by Buckeye Pipe Line Company as General Partner of the Partnership in accordance with the Partnership's Limited Partnership Agreement. In addition, the Board approved an Amended and Restated Unit Option and Distribution Equivalent Plan to extend the term thereof for an additional ten years and to make certain administrative changes in the Plan, the Unit Option Loan Program of the General Partner and related documents.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
First Quarter
Revenue for the first quarter 2002 was $56.9 million or 4.6 percent greater than revenue of $54.4 million for the first quarter 2001. Included in first quarter 2002 revenue is $4.0 million from three months of Norco Operations. Volumes for the first quarter of 2002 were 1,057,200 barrels per day, 34,700 barrels per day or 3.2 percent less than volumes of 1,091,900 barrels per day for the first quarter 2001. Included in first quarter volumes are three months of Norco volumes of 37,100 barrels per day. Average transportation revenue was 52.3 cents per barrel during the first quarter 2002 as compared to 50.7 cents per barrel during the first quarter 2001.
Gasoline volumes, including 16,800 barrels per day of Norco gasoline volumes, were 3.4 percent greater than first quarter 2001 gasoline volumes. Gasoline volumes during the first quarter 2002, excluding Norco, were equivalent to the first quarter 2001. In the East, gasoline volumes increased by approximately 8,100 barrels per day, or 3.9 percent, primarily due to increases in deliveries to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and upstate New York areas. In the Midwest, gasoline volumes decreased by approximately 11,900 barrels per day, or 7.1 percent. Demand for gasoline was weak throughout the region with the largest declines occurring in the Detroit and Bay City, Michigan areas.
Distillate volumes, including 15,900 barrels per day of Norco distillate volumes, were 8.3 percent less than first quarter 2001 distillate volumes. Distillate volumes, excluding Norco, declined by 41,700 barrels per day, or 13.4 percent, during the first quarter 2002 as compared to the first quarter 2001. Demand was weak throughout all systems due to the unseasonably warm weather.
Turbine fuel volumes were 12.5 percent lower during the first quarter 2002 than the first quarter 2001. Norco does not transport turbine fuel. WesPac volumes increased by 7,800 barrels per day on deliveries to San Diego Airport where transportation service commenced in May 2001. Deliveries to New York City airports declined by 18.0 percent while deliveries to Pittsburgh and Miami airports declined 16.1 and 12.1 percent, respectively. Volumes to all major airports declined as a result of reduced flight activity following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The outlook for recovery of turbine fuel volumes is uncertain due to airline schedule reductions and reduced consumer air travel. Turbine fuel revenue constitutes approximately 15 percent of the Partnership's revenues.
Costs and expenses for the first quarter 2002 were $34.8 million compared to $32.6 million for the first quarter 2001. Costs and expenses related to Norco Operations were $2.2 million for the first quarter 2002. During the first quarter 2002, increases in payroll and payroll benefits, professional fees and property tax expenses were offset by declines in operating power and casualty loss expense.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Partnership's financial condition at March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001 is highlighted in the following comparative summary:
Liquidity and Capital Indicators As of ----------------------- 3/31/02 12/31/01 ------- -------- Current ratio 1.9 to 1 1.5 to 1 Ratio of cash and cash equivalents, and trade receivables to current liabilities 0.9 to 1 0.8 to 1 Working capital - in thousands $22,605 $15,430 Ratio of total debt to total capital .52 to 1 .51 to 1 Book value (per Unit) $12.90 $12.98 |
The Partnership's cash flows from operations are generally sufficient to meet current working capital requirements. In addition, the Partnership has the ability to borrow up to $370 million under a $277.5 million 5-year Revolving Credit Agreement and a $92.5 million 364-day Revolving Credit Agreement (the "Credit Facilities".) The $370 million Credit Facilities is available until September 2002 with $277.5 million available thereafter until September 2006. The Partnership anticipates renewing the 364-day facility prior to its expiration in September 2002. At March 31, 2002 there was $143.0 million borrowed under the Credit Facilities.
Cash Provided by Operations
For the three months ended March 31, 2002, net cash provided by operations of $7.3 million was principally derived from $19.6 million of net income before depreciation and amortization. Changes in current assets and current liabilities resulted in a net cash use of $12.3 million. Increases in prepaid and other current assets are related to unbilled receivables for work performed by BGC under certain of its contracts. Accounts payable declined due to the payment of outstanding invoices while accrued and other current liabilities declined primarily as a result of payments to the General Partner for its services. Changes in non-current assets and liabilities resulted in a net cash use of $0.2 million.
Debt Obligation and Credit Facilities
In September and October 2001, the Partnership entered into the Credit Facilities with a syndicate of banks led by SunTrust Bank. These Credit Facilities permit borrowings of up to $370 million subject to certain limitations contained in the Credit Facilities agreements. Borrowings bear interest at the bank's base rate or at a rate based on the London interbank rate ("LIBOR") at the option of the Partnership. At March 31, 2002, the Partnership had borrowed $143 million under the 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement at a weighted average LIBOR pricing option rate of 2.92 percent. Also in September 2001 and concurrent with the above transaction, Buckeye repaid all borrowings outstanding under its $100 million Credit Agreement with First Union National Bank ("First Union") and its $30 million Loan Agreement with First Union. These agreements were terminated with the repayment of the borrowings.
At March 31, 2002, the Partnership had $383.0 million in outstanding long-term debt representing $240.0 million of Senior Notes and $143 million of borrowings under the 5-year Revolving Credit Agreement. The weighted average interest rate on all debt outstanding at March 31, 2002 was 5.44 percent. Capital Expenditures
At March 31, 2002 approximately 83 percent of total consolidated assets consisted of property, plant and equipment.
Capital expenditures during the three months ended March 31, 2002 totaled $5.4 million and were $2.1 million less than capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2001. Projected capital expenditures for 2002 are approximately $30 million, including approximately $25 million of maintenance capital and $5 million of expansion capital, and are expected to be funded from cash generated by operations and the Credit Facilities. Planned capital expenditures include, among other things, various improvements that enhance pipeline integrity, facilitate increased pipeline volumes, renewal and replacement of tank floors and roofs, upgrades to field instrumentation and cathodic protection systems and installation and replacement of mainline pipe and valves. In addition to the above planned 2002 capital expenditures, BGC has entered into a letter of intent with three major petrochemical companies to construct a 90-mile pipeline. At March 31, 2002, the project was in the right-of-way acquisition and design stage. Construction is expected to begin during the second quarter 2002 and be completed during 2002. Depending upon the outcome of the final terms and conditions of the ownership agreement, the Partnership expects to be a co-owner of the pipeline with a potential capital investment of up to $30 million. This project will be funded by the Partnership's existing Credit Facility.
OTHER MATTERS
Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2001, the FASB issued two new pronouncements: SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations", and SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets". SFAS 141 prohibits the use of the pooling-of-interest method for business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 and also applies to all business combinations accounted for by the purchase method that are completed after June 30, 2001. The Norco acquisition was accounted for in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 141. SFAS 142 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 with respect to all goodwill and other intangible assets recognized in an entity's statement of financial position at that date, regardless of when those assets were initially recognized. The Partnership's goodwill of $11,355,000 will no longer be subject to amortization beginning in 2002.
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143 "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations". SFAS No. 143, addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. SFAS No. 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. The Partnership is currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS 143.
In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets". SFAS 144 addresses the financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. SFAS 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. The adoption of SFAS 144 did not have a material impact on the Partnership's financial statements.
Forward Looking Statements
Information contained above in this Management's Discussion and Analysis and elsewhere in this Report on Form 10-Q with respect to expected financial results and future events is forward-looking, based on our estimates and assumptions and subject to risk and uncertainties. For those statements, the Partnership and the General Partner claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
The following important factors could affect our future results and could
cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-
looking statements: (1) adverse weather conditions resulting in reduced
demand; (2) changes in laws and regulations, including safety, tax and
accounting matters; (3) competitive pressures from alternative energy sources;
(4) liability for environmental claims; (5) improvements in energy efficiency
and technology resulting in reduced demand; (6) labor relations; (7) changes
in real property tax assessments; (8) regional economic conditions; (9) market
prices of petroleum products and the demand for those products in the
Partnership's service territory; (10) disruptions to the air travel system;
(11) security issues relating to the Partnership' assets; and (12) interest
rate fluctuations and other capital market conditions.
These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have a material adverse effect on future results. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information or future events.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The Partnership is exposed to market risks resulting from changes in interest rates. Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the Partnership's results of operations, consolidated financial position or operating cash flows. The Partnership is not exposed to any market risk due to rate changes on its fixed-rate Senior Notes but is exposed to market risk related to the interest rate on its Credit Facilities.
Market Risk - Trading Instruments
The Partnership is not currently exposed to market risk from trading instruments.
Market Risk - Other than Trading Instruments
The Partnership has market risk exposure on its Credit Facilities due to its variable rate pricing that is based on the bank's base rate or at a rate based on LIBOR. At March 31, 2002, the Partnership had $143.0 million in outstanding debt under its Credit Facilities that was subject to market risk. A 1 percent increase or decrease in the applicable rate under the Credit Facilities will result in an interest expense fluctuation of approximately $1.4 million per year. As of December 31, 2001, the Partnership had $133.0 million in outstanding debt under the Credit Facilities that was subject to market risk.
Part II - Other Information
Item 5. Other Information
An Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement (the "Amended Exchange Agreement"), among the Partnership, the Operating Partnerships, Buckeye Pipe Line Company (the General Partner of the Partnership), Buckeye Management Company and Glenmoor, Ltd., was approved on May 1, 2002, in accordance with the terms of the Partnership's Limited Partnership Agreement. The Amended Exchange Agreement, which is designed to better align the interests of the General Partner and the Partnership, was approved by the Board of Directors of Buckeye Pipe Line Company based upon a recommendation of a special committee of disinterested directors of the Board. The principal change reflected in the Amended Exchange Agreement was the elimination of the forfeiture payment provision contained in the original Exchange Agreement. The Amended Exchange Agreement also includes certain definitional and other minor changes.
As a condition of entering into the Amended Exchange Agreement, Glenmoor, Ltd., the parent corporation of the General Partner, and the Partnership entered into an Acknowledgement and Agreement under which Glenmoor acknowledged and agreed that any tax liabilities of Glenmoor resulting from the Amended Exchange Agreement were the responsibility of Glenmoor and its subsidiaries and not the Partnership and that any funds borrowed by Glenmoor from third party lenders to pay those tax liabilities would be the responsibility of Glenmoor and its subsidiaries and not the Partnership.
The foregoing description is qualified entirely by reference to the Amended Exchange Agreement and the Acknowledgement and Agreement, each dated as of May 6, 2002, filed as Exhibits to this Report.
Separately, at the meeting of the Board of Directors of Buckeye Pipe Line Company on April 24, 2002, the Board approved an Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement for the Partnership reflecting a change in the Partnership's principal office, certain recent Delaware law developments relating to the resolution of conflicts of interest, and revisions to the indemnification provisions. The amendments were approved by Buckeye Pipe Line Company as General Partner of the Partnership in accordance with the Partnership's Limited Partnership Agreement. In addition, the Board approved an Amended and Restated Unit Option and Distribution Equivalent Plan to extend the term thereof for an additional ten years and to make certain administrative changes in the Plan, the Unit Option Loan Program of the General Partner and related documents.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a)
Exhibit
Number
(Referenced
to
Item 601 of
Regulation S-K)
3.1 - Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of April 24, 2002.* 3.2 - Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of April 26, 2002.* 4.1 - Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust and Security Agreement, dated as of December 16, 1997, by Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P. ("Buckeye") to PNC Bank, National Association, as Trustee. (4) (Exhibit 4.1) 4.2 - Note Agreement, dated as of December 16, 1997, between Buckeye and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. (4) (Exhibit 4.2) 4.3 - Defeasance Trust Agreement, dated as of December 16, 1997, between and among PNC Bank, National Association, and Douglas A. Wilson, as Trustees. (4) (Exhibit 4.3) 4.4 - Certain instruments with respect to long- term debt of the Operating Partnerships which relate to debt that does not exceed 10 percent of the total assets of the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries are omitted pursuant to Item 601(b) (4) (iii) (A) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. 1229.601. The Partnership hereby agrees to furnish supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission a copy of each such instrument upon request. 10.1 - Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Buckeye, dated as of March 25, 1998. (1) * 10.2 - Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated as of October 4, 2001, between the General Partner and Buckeye. (2) (3) * 10.3 - Services Agreement, dated as of August 12, 1997, among Buckeye Management Company, the General Partner, and Services Company. (4) (Exhibit 10.9) 10.4 - Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2002, among the Partnership, the Operating Partnerships, the General Partner, Buckeye Management Company and Glenmoor, Ltd.* 10.5 - Acknowledgement and Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2002, between the Partnership and Glenmoor, Ltd.* 10.6 - Form of Executive Officer Severance Agreement. (3) (4) (Exhibit 10.13) 10.7 - Form of Amendment No. 1 to Executive Officer Severance Agreement. (3) (6) (Exhibit 10.18) 10.8 - Contribution, Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of December 31, 1998, between Buckeye Management Company and Buckeye Pipe Line Company. (5) (Exhibit 10.14) 10.9 - Director Recognition Program of the General Partner. (3) (5) Exhibit 10.15) Exhibit Number (Referenced to |
Item 601 of
Regulation S-K)
10.10 - Management Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998, among Buckeye Management Company, the General Partner and Glenmoor. (3) 10.11 - Amended and Restated Unit Option and Distribution Equivalent Plan of the Partnership, dated as of April 24, 2002. (3)* 10.12 - Amended and Restated Unit Option Loan Program of Buckeye Pipe Line Company, dated as of April 24, 2002. (3)* 10.13 - Second Amended and Restated Incentive Compensation Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2001, between the General Partner and the Partnership. (3) (7) (Exhibit 10.7) 10.14 - Credit Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2001 among the Partnership, SunTrust Bank and the other Signatories thereto. (8) 10.15 - Credit Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2001 among the Partnership, SunTrust Bank and the other Signatories thereto. (8) 21.1 - List of subsidiaries of the Partnership. (8) 23.1 - Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. (8) _______________ |
* Filed herewith.
(1) The Amended and Restated Agreements of Limited Partnership of the other Operating Partnerships are not filed because they are substantially identical to Exhibit 10.1 except for the identity of the partnership.
(2) The Management Agreements of the other Operating Partnerships are not filed because they are substantially identical to Exhibit 10.2 except for the identity of the partnership.
(3) Represents management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
(4) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as the Exhibit to the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year 1997.
(5) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as the Exhibit to the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year 1998.
(6) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as the Exhibit to the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year 1999.
(7) Previously filed with Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001.
(8) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year 2001.
(b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended March 31, 2002.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
(Registrant)
By: Buckeye Pipe Line Company,
as General Partner
Dated: May 7, 2002 By: /s/ Steven C. Ramsey Steven C. Ramsey Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer) |
Exhibit 3.1
CONFORMED COPY
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
OF
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
(As Amended and Restated as of April 24, 2002)
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE I - Definitions 1 Affiliate 1 Agent 2 Agreed Value 2 Agreement 2 Audit Committee 2 BMC 2 Business Day 2 Capital Accounts 2 Capital Contribution 2 Carrying Value 2 Certificate of Limited Partnership 2 Code 2 Contributed Property 3 Contributing Partner 3 Delaware Act 3 Designated Expenses 3 Eighty Percent Interest 3 ESOP 3 ESOP Loan 3 Exchange Act 3 Exchange Agreement 3 General Partner 3 GP Unit 3 Incentive Compensation Agreement 4 Indemnitee 4 Issue Price 4 Limited Partner 4 Liquidator 4 LP Certificate 4 LP Unit 4 Majority Interest 4 Management Agreements 4 Manager 4 NASDAQ 4 National Securities Exchange 4 Net Agreed Value 4 Operating Partnership Agreements 5 Operating Partnerships 5 Opinion of Counsel 5 Organizational Limited Partner 5 Partner 5 Partnership 5 Partnership Interest 5 Partnership Securities 5 Percentage Interest 5 Person 5 Pipe Line 5 Recapture Income 5 Record Date 5 Record Holder or Holder 5 Restricted Payment 6 Securities Act 6 Special Approval 6 Time of Delivery 6 Transfer Agent 6 Two-Thirds Interest 6 Unit 6 Unit Price 6 Units Register 6 Unrealized Gain 6 Unrealized Loss 7 ARTICLE II - Organizational Matters 7 2.1 Formation 7 2.2 Name 7 2.3 Principal Office; Registered Office 7 2.4 Power of Attorney 7 2.5 Term 9 2.6 Organizational Limited Partner 9 2.7 Organizational Certificate 9 ARTICLE III - Purpose 9 3.1 Purpose 9 ARTICLE IV - Capital Contributions; Purchases Pursuant to Purchase Agreements; Additional Issuances 9 4.1 General Partner Contributions 9 4.2 Limited Partner Contributions 10 4.3 Issuances of Additional LP Units and Other Securities 10 4.4 No Preemptive Rights 11 4.5 No Interest 11 4.6 Loans from Partners 11 4.7 No Withdrawal 11 ARTICLE V - Capital Accounts; Distributions 11 5.1 Capital Accounts 11 5.2 Distributions in Respect of Units 13 ARTICLE VI - Income Tax Matters 13 6.1 Tax Allocations 14 6.2 Preparation of Tax Returns 14 6.3 Tax Elections 15 6.4 Tax Controversies 15 6.5 Withholding 15 ARTICLE VII - Management and Operation of Business; Indemnification 15 7.1 Powers of General Partner 15 7.2 Duties of General Partner 16 7.3 Reliance by Third Parties 17 7.4 Compensation and Reimbursement of the General Partner 17 7.5 Purchase or Sale of LP Units and Other Partnership Securities 18 7.6 Partnership Funds 18 7.7 Outside Activities; Contracts with Affiliates; Loans to or from Affiliates 18 7.8 Tax Basis and Value Determinations 19 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standard of Care 19 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner 21 7.11 Limited Liability; Indemnification 21 ARTICLE VIII - Rights and Obligations of Limited Partners 22 8.1 Limitation of Liability 22 8.2 Management of Business 22 8.3 Outside Activities 23 8.4 Return of Capital 23 8.5 Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership 23 ARTICLE IX - Books, Records, Accounting and Reports 24 9.1 Books, Records and Accounting 24 9.2 Fiscal Year 24 9.3 Reports 24 ARTICLE X - Issuance of LP Certificates; Transfer and Exchange of LP Units 24 10.1 Initial Issuance of LP Certificates 24 10.2 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange 25 10.3 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen LP Certificates 25 10.4 Persons Deemed Owners 26 ARTICLE XI - Transfer of GP Units 26 11.1 Transfer of GP Units 26 11.2 Successor General Partner 26 ARTICLE XII - Admission of Initial, Substituted and Additional Limited Partners and Successor General Partner 26 12.1 Admission of Initial Limited Partners 26 12.2 Admission of Substituted Limited Partners 27 12.3 Admission of Successor General Partner 27 12.4 Admission of Additional Limited Partners 27 12.5 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership 27 ARTICLE XIII - Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner 27 13.1 Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner 28 13.2 Sale of Former General Partner's Interest 28 ARTICLE XIV - Dissolution and Liquidation 29 14.1 Dissolution 29 14.2 Reconstitution 30 14.3 Liquidation 30 14.4 Distribution in Kind 31 14.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership 31 14.6 Return of Capital 32 14.7 Waiver of Partition 32 ARTICLE XV - Amendment of Partnership Agreement 32 15.1 Amendments Which May be Adopted Solely by the General Partner 32 15.2 Other Amendments 33 15.3 Amendment Requirements 33 ARTICLE XVI - Meetings 33 16.1 Meetings 33 16.2 Record Date 33 16.3 Conduct of Meeting 34 16.4 Action Without a Meeting 34 ARTICLE XVII - Certain Restrictions 34 17.1 Additional Units 34 17.2 Certain Amendments 35 17.3 Sale of Assets 35 17.4 Restricted Payments by General Partner or Manager 35 ARTICLE XVIII - Right to Purchase Units 35 18.1 Right to Purchase Units 35 18.2 Notice of Election to Purchase 36 18.3 Purchase and Transfer of Units 36 ARTICLE XIX - General Provisions 36 19.1 Opinions Regarding Taxation as a Partnership 36 19.2 Personal Property 37 19.3 Addresses and Notices 37 19.4 Headings 37 19.5 Binding Effect 37 19.6 Integration 37 19.7 Waiver 37 19.8 Counterparts 37 19.9 Severability 37 19.10 Applicable Law 37 |
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
OF
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, dated as of April 24, 2002 (the "Agreement"), is entered into by and among BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, and the additional Persons that become Partners of the Partnership as provided herein.
BACKGROUND
On December 31, 1998, Buckeye Management Company assigned and transferred certain assets and liabilities, including all of its GP Units (as defined in Article I below), to Buckeye Pipe Line Company. Buckeye Pipe Line Company accepted the transfer of those certain assets and liabilities and the GP Units, became the General Partner of Buckeye Partners, L.P., and entered into the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of December 31, 1998 (the "Prior Partnership Agreement").
The General Partner desires to amend and restate the Prior Partnership Agreement in its entirety to reflect (i) a change of the principal office of the Partnership, (ii)revisions to the section regarding the resolution of conflicts of interest and the standard of care, and (iii) revisions to the section regarding limited liability and indemnification.
ARTICLE I
Definitions
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, apply to the terms used in this Agreement.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Person in question; provided, however, that, for purposes of the restrictive provisions of Sections 7.6, 7.7 and 7.9, neither the Partnership nor any of the Operating Partnerships nor any of their respective subsidiaries shall be deemed to be affiliates of the General Partner. As used herein, the term control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement, Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company, a Pennsylvania corporation which provides services to the General Partner and the Manager, shall be deemed an Affiliate of the General Partner.
"Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 2.4
"Agreed Value" of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property as of the time of contribution (or, in the case of cash, the amount thereof), as determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.
"Agreement" means this amended and restated agreement of limited partnership, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.
"Audit Committee" means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner composed of two or more directors who (a) are not security holders, officers or employees of the General Partner, (b) are not security holders (other than LP Units of the Partnership), officers, directors or employees of any Affiliate of the General Partner and (c) meet the independence standards required to serve on an audit committee of a board of directors by the National Securities Exchange on which the LP Units are listed for trading.
"BMC" means Buckeye Management Company, a Delaware corporation.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday recognized as such by the Government of the United States or the State of New York.
"Capital Accounts" mean the capital accounts maintained with respect to Units pursuant to Section 5.1(a).
"Capital Contribution" means any Contributed Property which a Partner contributes to the Partnership.
"Carrying Value" means (a) with respect to Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced as of the time of determination (but not below zero) by (i) all depreciation, cost recovery and amortization deductions charged to the Capital Accounts pursuant to Section 5.1(a) with respect to such property and (ii) an appropriate amount to reflect any sales, retirements and other dispositions of assets included in such property, and (b) with respect to any other property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes as of the time of determination, in any case as may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 5.1(f).
"Certificate of Limited Partnership" means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as described in the first sentence of Section 2.7, as amended or restated from time to time.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
"Contributed Property" means any cash, property or other consideration (in such form as may be permitted under the Delaware Act) contributed to the Partnership.
"Contributing Partner" means any Partner contributing Contributed Property to the Partnership in exchange for Units (or any transferee of such Units).
"Delaware Act" means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended from time to time, and any successor to such Act.
"Designated Expenses" mean all costs and expenses (direct or indirect) incurred by the General Partner which are directly or indirectly related to the formation, capitalization, business or activities of the Partnership and the Operating Partnerships (including, without limitation, expenses, direct or indirect, reasonably allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates); provided, however, that Designated Expenses shall not include (a) any cost or expense for which the General Partner is not entitled to be reimbursed by reason of the proviso at the end of Section 7.11(b), (b) severance costs not permitted to be reimbursed pursuant to the Management Agreements in connection with the withdrawal of the Manager, (c) any amounts which the General Partner receives as incentive compensation under the Incentive Compensation Agreement and pays over to officers or employees of the Manager or (d) any cost or expense for which the General Partner and its Affiliates are not entitled to be reimbursed pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement.
"Eighty Percent Interest" means Limited Partners holding an aggregate of at least 80% of the outstanding LP Units.
"ESOP" means the Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company Employee Stock Ownership Plan, as amended.
"ESOP Loan" means the loan to the ESOP due March 28, 2011 in the original principal amount of $62,625,000 and guaranteed by the General Partner and certain of its Affiliates, and shall include any loans refinancing such loan.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
"Exchange Agreement" means the Exchange Agreement, dated as of August 12, 1997, among the General Partner, the Manager, the Partnership and each of the Operating Partnerships and Glenmoor, Ltd., a Delaware corporation, as amended or restated from time to time.
"General Partner" means Pipe Line, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, and any successor to Pipe Line as such general partner.
"GP Unit" means a Partnership Interest issued pursuant to
Section 4.1 and representing a general partner's interest in the
Partnership.
"Incentive Compensation Agreement" means the incentive compensation agreement, dated as of March 22, 1996, between BMC and the Partnership, as amended or restated from time to time.
"Indemnitee" means the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner, any Person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the General Partner or any such Affiliate, or any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any such Affiliate as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another Person.
"Issue Price" means the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership.
"Limited Partner" means any limited partner of the Partnership.
"Liquidator" has the meaning specified in Section 14.3.
"LP Certificate" means a certificate issued by the Partnership, substantially in the form of Annex A to this Agreement, evidencing ownership of one or more LP Units.
"LP Unit" means a Partnership Interest issued pursuant to
Section 4.2 or 4.3 and representing a limited partner's interest
in the Partnership.
"Majority Interest" means Limited Partners holding an aggregate of more than 50% of the outstanding LP Units.
"Management Agreements" mean the management agreements, dated as of November 18, 1986, pursuant to which the Manager will manage the Operating Partnerships, in each case as amended or restated from time to time.
"Manager" means Pipe Line, in its capacity as the general partner and manager of the Operating Partnerships, and any successor to Pipe Line as such general partner and manager.
"NASDAQ" means the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System.
"National Securities Exchange" means an exchange registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act.
"Net Agreed Value" means (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such Contributed Property reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by the Partnership upon contribution of such Contributed Property or to which such Contributed Property is subject when contributed, (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner pursuant to Section 5.2, 14.3 or 14.4, the fair market value of such property at the time of such distribution reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution.
"Operating Partnership Agreements" mean the amended and restated agreements of limited partnership, dated as of December 23, 1986, governing the rights and obligations of the partners of the Operating Partnerships and certain related matters, as amended or restated from time to time.
"Operating Partnerships" mean Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P., Buckeye Pipe Line Company of Michigan, L.P., Buckeye Tank Terminals Company, L.P., Everglades Pipe Line Company, L.P., and Laurel Pipe Line Company, L.P., each a Delaware limited partnership.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.
"Organizational Limited Partner" means Pennsylvania Company, a Delaware corporation, acting as the organizational limited partner pursuant to this Agreement.
"Partner" means the General Partner or a Limited Partner.
"Partnership" means Buckeye Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
"Partnership Interest" means a general partner's or limited partner's interest in the Partnership.
"Partnership Securities" has the meaning specified in
Section 4.3.
"Percentage Interest" means, with respect to any Partner, the number of Units held by such Partner divided by the number of Units outstanding.
"Person" means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, a trust, an unincorporated organization, an association or any other entity.
"Pipe Line" means Buckeye Pipe Line Company, a Delaware corporation.
"Recapture Income" means any gain recognized by the Partnership upon the disposition of any asset of the Partnership that is not a capital gain due to the recapture of certain deductions previously taken with respect to such asset.
"Record Date" means the date established by the General
Partner for determining the identity of Limited Partners entitled
(a) to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Limited Partners,
to vote by ballot or approve Partnership action in writing
without a meeting or to exercise rights in respect of any other
lawful action of Limited Partners, or (b) to receive any report
or distribution.
"Record Holder" or "Holder" of (a) any LP Unit means the Person in whose name such Unit is registered in the Units Register or (b) any GP Unit means the General Partner.
"Restricted Payment" means any dividend, distribution or other payment in respect of the capital stock of the General Partner or the Manager, as the case may be.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
"Special Approval" means approval by a majority of the members of the Audit Committee.
"Time of Delivery" means December 23, 1986.
"Transfer Agent" means the bank, trust company or other Person appointed from time to time by the Partnership to act as successor transfer agent and registrar for LP Units.
"Two-Thirds Interest" means Limited Partners holding an aggregate of at least two-thirds of the outstanding LP Units.
"Unit" means a GP Unit or an LP Unit.
"Unit Price" of a Unit means, as of any date of determination, (a) if such Unit is one of a class of Units listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange, the average of the last reported sales prices per Unit regular way or, in case no such reported sale takes place on any such day, the average of the last reported bid and asked prices per Unit regular way, in either case on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Units is listed or admitted to trading (or, if such class of Units is listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape), for the five trading days immediately preceding the date of determination; (b) if such Unit is not of a class of Units listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange but is of a class quoted by NASDAQ, the average of the last reported sales prices per Unit or, in case no such reported sale takes place on any such day or in case last reported sales prices are not quoted by NASDAQ, the average of the last bid and asked prices per Unit, for the five trading days immediately preceding such date of determination, as furnished by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated or such other nationally recognized quotation service as may be selected by the General Partner for such purpose, if said Bureau is not at the time furnishing quotations; or (c) if such Unit is not of a class of Units listed for trading on a National Securities Exchange or quoted by NASDAQ, an amount equal to the fair market value of such Unit as of such date of determination, as determined by the General Partner using any reasonable method of valuation it may select.
"Units Register" has the meaning specified in Section 10.2.
"Unrealized Gain" attributable to a Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of the fair market value of such property as of such date of determination over the Carrying Value of such property as of such date of determination (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.1(f) as of such date).
"Unrealized Loss" attributable to a Partnership property
means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of
the Carrying Value of such property as of such date of
determination (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to
Section 5.1(f) as of such date) over the fair market value of
such property as of such date of determination.
ARTICLE II
Organizational Matters
2.1 Formation. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner originally formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The General Partner, pursuant to the authority contained in Article XV of this Agreement, does hereby amend and restate this Agreement in its entirety to continue the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act and to set forth the rights and obligations of the Partners and certain matters related thereto. Except as expressly provided herein to the contrary, the rights and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act.
2.2 Name. The name of the Partnership shall be, and the
business of the Partnership shall be conducted under the name of,
"Buckeye Partners, L.P."; provided, however, that (a) the
Partnership's business may be conducted under any other name or
names deemed advisable by the General Partner, (b) the General
Partner in its sole discretion may change the name of the
Partnership at any time and from time to time and (c) the name
under which the Partnership conducts business shall include
"Ltd." or "Limited Partnership" (or similar words or letters)
where necessary for purposes of maintaining the limited liability
status of each Limited Partner or otherwise complying with the
laws of any jurisdiction that so requires.
2.3 Principal Office; Registered Office. (a) The principal
office of the Partnership shall be 5002 Buckeye Road, Emmaus,
Pennsylvania 18049, or such other place as the General Partner
may from time to time designate. The Partnership may maintain
offices at such other places as the General Partner deems
advisable.
(b) The address of the Partnership's registered office in the
State of Delaware shall be Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange
Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware
19801, and the name of the Partnership's registered agent for
service of process at such address shall be The Corporation Trust
Company.
2.4 Power of Attorney. (a) Each Limited Partner hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner or, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 14.3, the Liquidator, with full power of substitution, as such Limited Partner's true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact ("Agent"), with full power and authority in such Limited Partner's name, place and stead to:
(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including, without limitation, this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and any amendments or restatements thereof) which the Agent deems appropriate or necessary to form or qualify, or continue the existence or qualification of, the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability) under the laws of any state or jurisdiction; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments which the Agent deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendments, changes or modifications of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (C) all conveyances and other documents or instruments which the Agent deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of any Partner pursuant to Article XII, XIII or XIV and other events described in Article XII, XIII or XIV; and (E) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including, without limitation, this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and any amendments or restatements thereof) relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Units issued pursuant to Section 4.4; and
(ii) execute, swear to, acknowledge and file all ballots,
consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other
instruments which the Agent deems appropriate or necessary in
order to make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote,
consent, approval, agreement or other action which is made or
given by the Partners hereunder, is deemed to be made or given by
the Partners hereunder, is consistent with the terms of this
Agreement or is deemed by the Agent to be appropriate or
necessary to effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement or
the purposes of the Partnership; provided, however, that, if any
vote or approval of Limited Partners is specifically required for
an action by any provision of this Agreement, the Agent may
exercise the power of attorney made in this subsection (ii) to
take such action only after such vote or approval is obtained.
(b) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be
irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall
survive and not be affected by the subsequent death,
incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or
termination of any Limited Partner and the transfer of all or any
portion of such Limited Partner's Units and shall extend to such
Limited Partner's heirs, transferees, successors, assigns and
personal representatives. Each Limited Partner hereby agrees to
be bound by any representations made by the Agent acting in good
faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each Limited
Partner hereby waives any and all defenses which may be available
to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the Agent taken in
good faith pursuant to such power of attorney. Each Limited
Partner shall execute and deliver to the Agent, within 15 days
after receipt of the Agent's request therefor, such further
designations, powers of attorney and other instruments as the
Agent deems appropriate or necessary to effectuate the terms or
intent of this Agreement or the purposes of the Partnership.
2.5 Term. The Partnership shall continue in existence until the close of Partnership business on December 31, 2036 or until the earlier termination of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV.
2.6 Organizational Limited Partner. At and as of the Time of
Delivery, the Partnership interest of the Organizational Limited
Partner shall be terminated and the Partnership Interest of BMC
shall be as described in Section 4.1.
2.7 Organizational Certificate. An Amended and Restated
Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership has been
filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as
required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall cause to
be filed such other certificates or documents as may be required
for the formation, operation and qualification of a limited
partnership in Delaware and any other state in which the
Partnership may elect to do business. The General Partner shall
thereafter file any necessary amendments to the Certificate of
Limited Partnership and any such other certificates and documents
and do all things requisite to the maintenance of the Partnership
as a limited partnership (or as a partnership in which the
Limited Partners have limited liability) under the laws of
Delaware and any other state in which the Partnership may elect
to do business. Subject to applicable law, the General Partner
may omit from the Certificate of Limited Partnership and any such
other certificates and documents, and from all amendments
thereto, the names and addresses of the Limited Partners and
information relating to the Capital Contributions and shares of
profits and compensation of the Limited Partners, or state such
information in the aggregate rather than with respect to each
individual Limited Partner.
ARTICLE III
Purpose
3.1 Purpose. The purpose and business of the Partnership shall be to engage in any lawful activity for which limited partnerships may be organized under the Delaware Act.
ARTICLE IV
Capital Contributions; Purchases Pursuant
to Purchase Agreements; Additional Issuances
4.1 General Partner Contributions. (a) At and as of the Time of Delivery, the General Partner contributed to the Partnership, in exchange for 121,212 GP Units (i.e., a 1% Percentage Interest), an amount equal to $2,424,240.
(b) Following the Time of Delivery, whenever a Limited Partner
makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership pursuant to
Section 4.3, the General Partner shall contribute to the
Partnership, in exchange for a number of GP Units equal to 1/99th
of the total number of LP Units then being purchased, Contributed
Property (which may include LP Units) having a Net Agreed Value
equal to 1/99th of the aggregate Net Agreed Value of all Capital
Contributions to the Partnership then being made pursuant to
Section 4.3, unless the General Partner receives an Opinion of
Counsel that the failure to make such additional Capital
Contribution would not result in the Partnership or any of the
Operating Partnerships being treated as an association taxable as
a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
4.2 Limited Partner Contributions. At and as of the Time of Delivery, each underwriting firm which entered into an underwriting agreement with the Partnership contributed to the Partnership, in exchange for the number of LP Units specified therein an amount in cash equal to the Issue Price for such LP Units (as specified in such underwriting agreement) multiplied by the number of LP Units being so purchased.
4.3 Issuances of Additional LP Units and Other Securities. (a)
The General Partner is hereby authorized to cause the Partnership
to issue, in addition to the LP Units issued pursuant to Section
4.2, additional LP Units, or classes or series thereof, or
options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating thereto
or any other type of equity security that the Partnership may
lawfully issue, any secured or unsecured debt obligations of the
Partnership, or debt obligations of the Partnership convertible
into any class or series of equity securities of the Partnership
(collectively, "Partnership Securities"), for any Partnership
purpose, at any time or from time to time, to Partners or to
other Persons (including, without limitation, to employee benefit
plans sponsored by the General Partner, the Partnership, any of
the Operating Partnerships, the Manager or any of their
respective Affiliates), for such consideration and on such terms
and conditions, and entitling the holders thereof to such
relative rights and powers, as shall be established by the
General Partner in its sole discretion, all without the approval
of any Limited Partners, except as provided in Section 17.1.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing (but
subject to the provisions of Section 17.1), the additional
Partnership Securities to be issued by the Partnership under this
Section 4.3 may contain provisions with respect to (i) the
allocation of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction
and credit; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions;
(iii) rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership;
(iv) whether any such issue of Partnership Securities may be
acquired by the Partnership, by purchase, redemption or
otherwise, and if so, the price at which, and the terms and
conditions upon which, such Partnership Securities may be
purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Partnership; (v)
the conversion rights applicable to any such issue of Partnership
Securities, and if so, the rate at which, and the terms and
conditions upon which, such Partnership Securities may be
converted into any other class or series of Partnership
Securities; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which any such
Partnership Securities will be issued, assigned, or transferred;
and (vii) the right, if any, of the holders of any such issue of
Partnership Securities to vote on Partnership matters.
(c) The General Partner is hereby authorized and directed to do
all acts which it deems appropriate or necessary in connection
with each issuance of Units or other securities by the
Partnership and to amend this Agreement in any manner which it
deems appropriate or necessary to provide for each such issuance,
to admit additional limited partners in connection therewith and
to specify the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders
of the Units or other securities being so issued, all without the
approval of any Limited Partners, except as provided in Section
17.1.
4.4 No Preemptive Rights. No Partner shall have any preemptive
right with respect to the issuance or sale of Units or other
securities that may be issued by the Partnership.
4.5 No Interest. No interest shall be paid by the Partnership
on Capital Contributions.
4.6 Loans from Partners. Loans or other advances by a Partner
to or for the account of the Partnership shall not be considered
Capital Contributions.
4.7 No Withdrawal. No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw any
part of its Capital Contributions or its Capital Account or to
receive any distributions from the Partnership except as provided
herein.
ARTICLE V
Capital Accounts; Distributions
5.1 Capital Accounts. (a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner a separate Capital Account with respect to Units in accordance with the regulations issued pursuant to Section 704 of the Code. The Capital Account of any Partner shall be increased by (i) the Net Agreed Value of all Capital Contributions made by such Partner in exchange for Units and (ii) all items of income and gain computed in accordance with Section 5.1 (b) and allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.1(c) and reduced by (iii) the Net Agreed Value of all distributions of cash or property made to such Partner with respect to Units and (iv) all items of deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.1(b) and allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.1(c).
(b) For purposes of computing the amount of each item of income, gain, loss or deduction to be reflected in the Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes, provided that:
(i) Any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property was equal to the Carrying Value of such property. Upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or amortization pursuant to Section 5.1(e) or 7.8, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property was equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment.
(ii) If the Partnership's adjusted basis in property subject to
depreciation, cost recovery or amortization is reduced for
federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 48(q) (1) of the
Code, the amount of such reduction shall be deemed to be an
additional item of deduction in the year such property is placed
in service. Any restoration of such basis pursuant to Section
48(q) (2) of the Code shall be deemed to be an additional item of
income in the year of restoration.
(iii) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable
disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined by
the Partnership as if the adjusted basis of such property as of
such date of disposition was equal in amount to the Carrying
Value of such property as of such date.
(iv) All fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to
promote the sale of (or to sell) a Partnership Interest that can
neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the Code
shall be treated as items of deduction.
(v) The computation of all items of income, gain, loss and
deduction shall be made without regard to any election under
Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the Partnership and,
as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or Section
705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such
items are not includible in gross income or are neither currently
deductible nor capitalizable for federal income tax purposes.
(c) (i) For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts
and except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.1 (c), each
item of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance
with Section 5.1 (b)) shall be allocated to the Partners in
accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
(ii) If any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustment allocation or distribution described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1 (b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate a deficit in its Capital Account created by such adjustment, allocation or distribution as quickly as possible.
(iii) To preserve uniformity of Units, the General Partner
shall have sole discretion pursuant to Section 6.1(c) to make
special allocations of income or deduction that do not have a
material adverse effect on the Limited Partners and are
consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the Code.
(iv) If there is a net decrease in Partnership minimum gain,
within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b) (4)
(iv), during a Partnership taxable year, all Partners with
deficit balances in their Capital Accounts, computed as described
in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(iv)(c) at the end of
such year, will be allocated items of Partnership income and gain
for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in the
amounts and in the proportions needed to eliminate such deficits
as quickly as possible, before any other allocations are made
under Section 704(b) of the Code.
(d) (i) Except as otherwise provided in this Section
5.1(d), a transferee of LP Units shall, upon becoming a Limited
Partner, succeed to the portion of the transferor's Capital
Account maintained with respect to the Units transferred.
(ii) If a transfer of Units causes a termination of the Partnership under Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code, the Partnership properties shall be deemed to have been distributed in liquidation of the Partnership to the Partners (including the transferee of the Units) pursuant to Sections 14.4 and 14.5 and recontributed by such Partners and transferees in reconstitution of the Partnership. The Capital Accounts of such reconstituted Partnership shall be maintained in accordance with this Article V.
(e) If any additional LP Units are to be issued pursuant to
Section 4.3, or if any Partnership Property is to be distributed,
the Capital Accounts of the Partners (and the Carrying Values of
all Partnership properties) shall, immediately prior to such
issuance or distribution, be adjusted (consistent with the
provisions hereof and of Section 704(b) of the Code) upwards or
downwards to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss
attributable to all Partnership properties (as if such Unrealized
Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized upon an actual sale
of such properties immediately prior to such issuance). In
determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the fair
market value of Partnership properties, as of any date of
determination, (i) shall, in the case of the issuance of
additional LP Units, be deemed to be equal to (A) the number of
Units outstanding, as of the date of determination, times the
Issue Price for which such additional LP Units are so issued,
plus (B) the amount of any Partnership indebtedness outstanding
as of the date of determination, and (ii) shall, in the case of
the distribution of Partnership property, be determined in the
manner provided in Section 14.3.
5.2 Distributions in Respect of Units. (a) From time to time, not less often than quarterly, the General Partner shall review the Partnership's accounts to determine whether distributions are appropriate. The General Partner may make such cash distributions as it, in its sole discretion, may determine, without being limited to current or accumulated income or gains, from any Partnership funds, including, without limitation, Partnership revenues, Capital Contributions or borrowed funds. In its sole discretion, the General Partner may also distribute to the Partners other Partnership property, additional Units or other securities of the Partnership or other entities.
All distributions in respect of Units shall be made concurrently to all Record Holders on the Record Date set for purposes of such distribution and shall be prorated in accordance with such Record Holders' respective Percentage Interests as of such Record Date.
(b) Amounts paid pursuant to Section 7.4, any Management Agreement, any Operating Partnership Agreement or the Incentive Compensation Agreement shall not be deemed to be distributions for purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
Income Tax Matters
6.1 Tax Allocations. (a) For federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests except that the General Partner shall have the authority to make such other allocations as are necessary and appropriate to comply with Section 704 of the Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
(b) Gain resulting from the sale or other taxable disposition of Partnership assets and allocated to (or recognized by) a Partner (or its successor in interest) for federal income tax purposes shall be deemed to be Recapture Income to the extent such Partner has been allocated or has claimed any deduction directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gain as Recapture Income.
(c) To preserve uniformity of LP Units, the General Partner
shall have sole discretion to (i) adopt such conventions as it
deems appropriate or necessary in determining the amount of
depreciation and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special
allocations of income or deduction and (iii) amend the provisions
of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or
promulgation of regulations under Section 704(c) of the Code or
(y) otherwise to preserve the uniformity of Units issued or sold
from time to time. The General Partner may adopt such
conventions and make such allocations and amendments only if they
would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners
and are consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the
Code.
(d) Items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and
credit shall, for federal income tax purposes, be determined on a
monthly basis (or other basis, as required or permitted by
Section 706 of the Code) and shall be allocated to the Persons
who are Record Holders of Units as of the close of business on
the first day of such month; provided, however, that gain or loss
on a sale or other disposition of all or a substantial portion of
the assets of the Partnership shall be allocated to the Persons
who are Record Holders of Units as of the close of business on
the date of sale.
(e) Pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code, items of income,
gain, loss, deduction and credit attributable to Contributed
Property shall be allocated in such a manner as to take into
account the variation between the basis of such property to the
Partnership and its Carrying Value.
6.2 Preparation of Tax Returns. The General Partner shall
arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all returns of
Partnership income, gains, losses, deductions, credits and other
items necessary for federal and state income tax purposes and
shall use all reasonable efforts to furnish to the Limited
Partners within 90 days after the close of the taxable year the
tax information reasonably required for federal and state income
tax reporting purposes. The classification, realization and
recognition of income, gains, losses, deductions, credits and
other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for
federal income tax purposes, unless the General Partner shall
determine otherwise in its sole discretion.
6.3 Tax Elections. Except as otherwise provided herein, the
General Partner shall, in its sole discretion, determine whether
to make any available election. The General Partner shall elect
under Section 754 of the Code to cause the basis of Partnership
property to be adjusted for federal income tax purposes as
provided by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code, but the General
Partner may seek to revoke this election if the General Partner
determines that such revocation is in the best interests of the
Limited Partners.
6.4 Tax Controversies. Subject to the provisions hereof, the
General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner (as
defined in Section 6231 of the Code) and is authorized and
required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership's
expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership's
affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative
and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for
professional services and costs associated therewith. Each
Limited Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and
to do or refrain from doing any and all things reasonably
required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.
6.5 Withholding. The General Partner is authorized to take any
action necessary to comply with any withholding requirements
established by applicable law, including, without limitation,
with regard to (a) the sale of United States real property
interests, (b) the distributions of cash or property to any
Partner which is a foreign Person, and (c) the transfer of Units.
ARTICLE VII
Management and Operation of Business; Indemnification
7.1 Powers of General Partner. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all powers to control and manage the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner shall have any power to control or manage the business and affairs of the Partnership.
In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or which are granted to the General Partner under any other provisions of this Agreement, the General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered, in the name of and on behalf of the Partnership, to do and perform any and all acts and things which it deems appropriate or necessary in the conduct of the business and affairs of the Partnership, including, without limitation, the following:
(a) to lend or borrow money, to assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for indebtedness and other liabilities and to issue evidences of indebtedness;
(b) to buy, lease (as lessor or lessee), sell, mortgage,
encumber or otherwise acquire or dispose of any or all of the
assets of the Partnership;
(c) to own, use and invest the assets of the Partnership;
(d) to purchase or sell products, services and supplies;
(e) to make tax, regulatory and other filings, and to render
periodic and other reports, to governmental agencies or bodies
having jurisdiction over the assets or business of the
Partnership;
(f) to open, maintain and close bank accounts and to draw checks
and other orders for the payment of money;
(g) to negotiate, execute and perform any contracts, conveyances
or other instruments;
(h) to distribute Partnership cash;
(i) to utilize the services of officers and employees of the
General Partner or of any other Persons and to select and dismiss
employees (if any) and outside attorneys, accountants,
consultants and contractors;
(j) to maintain insurance for the benefit of the Partnership and
the Partners;
(k) to form, participate in or contribute or loan cash or
property to limited or general partnerships, joint ventures,
corporations or similar arrangements;
(l) to expand the business activities in which the Partnership
is engaged or engage in new business activities by acquisition or
internal development;
(m) to conduct litigation and incur legal expenses and otherwise
deal with or settle claims or disputes; and
(n) to purchase, sell or otherwise acquire or dispose of Units;
in each case at such times and upon such terms and conditions as
the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary, and subject
to any express restrictions contained elsewhere in this
Agreement.
7.2 Duties of General Partner. The General Partner shall manage the business and affairs of the Partnership in the manner the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the General Partner's duties shall include the following:
(a) to take possession of the assets of the Partnership;
(b) to staff and operate the business of the Partnership with
the officers and employees of the General Partner or of other
Persons;
(c) to render or cause to be rendered engineering, environmental
and other technical services and perform or cause to be
performed financial, accounting, logistical and other
administrative functions for the Partnership;
(d) to render such reports and make such periodic and other
filings as may be required under applicable federal, state and
local laws, rules and regulations;
(e) to provide or cause to be provided purchasing, procurement,
repair and other services for the Partnership; and
(f) to conduct the business of the Partnership in accordance
with this Agreement and all applicable laws, rules and
regulations;
in each case in such a manner as the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary.
7.3 Reliance by Third Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner as if it were the Partnership's sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies which may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.
7.4 Compensation and Reimbursement of the General Partner. (a)
Except as provided in this Section 7.4 or elsewhere in this
Agreement, the Incentive Compensation Agreement or any other
agreement contemplated or permitted hereby or thereby, the
General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as
General Partner to the Partnership.
(b) The General Partner shall be promptly reimbursed for all
Designated Expenses, in addition to any reimbursement as a result
of indemnification in accordance with Section 7.11. The General
Partner shall determine such Designated Expenses in any
reasonable manner determined by it.
(c) The General Partner may propose and adopt without the
approval of the Limited Partners fringe benefit plans, including,
without limitation, plans comparable to those that covered
employees employed by the predecessors to the Operating
Partnerships and plans involving the issuance of Units, for the
benefit of employees of the General Partner, Partnership, any
of the Operating Partnerships, the Manager or any of their
respective Affiliates in respect of services performed, or
obligated to be performed, directly or indirectly, for the
benefit of the Partnership or any of the Operating Partnerships.
7.5 Purchase or Sale of LP Units and Other Partnership
Securities. The General Partner may, on behalf of the
Partnership, purchase or otherwise acquire or sell or otherwise
dispose of LP Units and other Partnership Securities. As long as
LP Units are held by the Partnership or any of the Operating
Partnerships, such LP Units or other Partnership Securities shall
not be considered outstanding for any purpose. The General
Partner or any of its Affiliates may also purchase or otherwise
acquire or sell or otherwise dispose of LP Units and other
Partnership Securities for its own account.
7.6 Partnership Funds. The funds of the Partnership shall be deposited in such account or accounts as shall be designated by the General Partner, and shall not be commingled with the funds of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates. All withdrawals from or charges against such accounts shall be made by the General Partner or by its agents, which agents may be Affiliates of the General Partner. Funds of the Partnership may be invested as determined by the General Partner.
7.7 Outside Activities; Contracts with Affiliates; Loans to or
from Affiliates. (a) The General Partner shall not have or
permit the Manager to have any business interests or engage in
any business activities except for those relating to the
Partnership and the Operating Partnerships.
(b) Any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than the
Manager) and any director, officer, partner or employee of the
General Partner or any of its Affiliates shall be entitled to and
may have business interests and engage in business activities in
addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business
interests and activities in direct competition with the
Partnership and the Operating Partnerships, for their own account
and for the account of others, without having or incurring any
obligation to offer any interest in such businesses or activities
to the Partnership, the Operating Partnerships or any Partner.
Neither the Partnership, the Operating Partnerships nor any of
the Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or
the partnership relationship governed hereby in any such business
interests.
(c) Each of the Limited Partners hereby approves, ratifies and
confirms the execution, delivery and performance of the Operating
Partnership Agreements, the Incentive Compensation Agreement, the
Management Agreements, and the Exchange Agreement and agrees that
the General Partner is authorized to execute, deliver and perform
the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described
therein on behalf of the Partnership without the approval or vote
of any Limited Partners, notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement or the Operating Partnership Agreements.
(d) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.4(a), the General
Partner and its Affiliates may enter into contracts with, or
render services to, the Partnership or any of the Operating
Partnerships, provided that such contracts or services are on
terms that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership.
(e) Neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall
sell, transfer or convey property to, or purchase property from,
the Partnership, directly or indirectly, except pursuant to
transactions that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership.
(f) The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to the
Partnership funds needed by the Partnership for such periods of
time as the General Partner may determine; provided, however,
that the General Partner or an Affiliate may not charge the
Partnership interest greater than the rate (including points or
other financing charges or fees) that would be charged to the
Partnership by unrelated lenders on comparable loans. The
Partnership shall reimburse the General Partner or its Affiliate,
as the case may be, for any costs incurred by the General Partner
or Affiliate in connection with the borrowing of funds obtained
by such General Partner or Affiliate and loaned to the
Partnership.
(g) The Partnership may lend funds to the General Partner or any
of its Affiliates; provided, however, that the Partnership may
not lend funds to the General Partner or an Affiliate unless such
funds consist of funds available after provision for working
capital and such reserves as the General Partner deems
appropriate and such loan shall bear interest at the rate
(including points or other financing charges or fees) that the
General Partner would be charged by unrelated lenders on
comparable loans.
7.8 Tax Basis and Value Determinations. To the extent that the
General Partner is required pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement to establish fair market values or allocate amounts
realized, tax basis, Agreed Values or Net Agreed Values, the
General Partner shall establish such values and make such
allocations in a manner that is reasonable and fair to the
Limited Partners, taking into account all applicable laws,
governmental regulations, rulings and decisions. The General
Partner may, in its sole discretion, modify or revise such
allocations in order to comply with such laws, governmental
regulations, rulings or decisions or to the extent it otherwise
deems such modification or revision appropriate or necessary.
The General Partner is authorized, to the extent deemed by it to
be appropriate or necessary, to utilize the services of an
independent appraiser in establishing such values or allocations
and the General Partner shall in such cases be entitled to rely
on the values or allocations established by such independent
appraiser.
7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standard of Care. (a)
Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any
other agreement contemplated hereby, whenever a conflict of
interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of
its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership or any
Limited Partner, on the other hand, any resolution or course of
action by the General Partner or such Affiliate in respect of
such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved
by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this
Agreement or of any agreement contemplated hereby, or of a duty
stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course
of action is, or by operation of this Agreement is deemed to be,
fair and reasonable to the Partnership. The General Partner
shall be authorized but not required in connection with its
resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval
of such resolution. Any conflict of interest and any resolution
of such conflict of interest shall be conclusively deemed fair
and reasonable to the Partnership if such conflict of interest or
resolution is (i) approved by Special Approval (as long as the
material facts known to the General Partner or such Affiliate
regarding any proposed transaction were disclosed to the Audit
Committee at the time of its approval), (ii) on terms no less
favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided
to or available from unrelated third parties, or (iii) fair to
the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the
relationships among the parties involved (including other
transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous
to the Partnership). The General Partner may also adopt a
resolution or course of action that has not received Special
Approval. In connection with the determination by the General
Partner (including the Audit Committee in connection with Special
Approval) of what is fair and reasonable to the Partnership in
connection with its resolution of a conflict of interest, the
General Partner shall be authorized to consider (A) the relative
interests of each party to such conflict, agreement, transaction
or situation, and the benefits and burdens relating to such
interests; (B) any customary or accepted industry practices, and
any customary or historical dealings with a particular Person;
(C) any applicable generally accepted accounting or engineering
practices or principles; and (D) such additional factors as the
General Partner (including the Audit Committee) determines in its
sole discretion to be relevant, reasonable or appropriate under
the circumstances. Nothing contained in this Agreement, however,
is intended to, nor shall it be construed to require the General
Partner (including the Audit Committee) to consider the interests
of any Person other than the Partnership. In the absence of bad
faith by the General Partner, the resolution, action or terms so
made, taken or provided by the General Partner shall not
constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement
contemplated hereby or a breach of any standard of care or duty
imposed hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other applicable
law, rule or regulation.
(b) Whenever a particular transaction, arrangement or resolution
of a conflict of interest is required under this Agreement or any
agreement contemplated hereby to be fair and/or reasonable to any
Person, the fair and/or reasonable nature of such transaction,
arrangement or resolution shall be considered in the context of
similar or related transactions.
(c) Whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated
hereby provides that the General Partner or any of its Affiliates
is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its
"discretion" or under a grant of similar authority or latitude,
the General Partner or such Affiliate shall be entitled, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, to consider only such
interests and factors as it desires and shall have no duty or
obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or
factors affecting the Partnership or the Limited Partners, or
(ii) in its "good faith" or under another express standard, the
General Partner or such Affiliate shall act under such express
standard and, except as required by applicable law, shall not be
subject to any other or different standards imposed by this
Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or applicable
law.
7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner. (a) The
General Partner (including the Audit Committee) may rely and
shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any
certificate, document or other instrument believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party
or parties.
(b) The General Partner (including the Audit Committee) may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisors selected by it and any opinion or advice of any such Person as to matters which the General Partner (including the Audit Committee) believes to be within such Person's professional or expert competence shall be full and complete authorization and protection with respect to any action taken or suffered or omitted by the General Partner (including the Audit Committee) hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such opinion or advice.
(c) The General Partner (including the Audit Committee) may
exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and
perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either
directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner
(including the Audit Committee) shall not be responsible for any
misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed
by the General Partner in good faith.
7.11 Limited Liability; Indemnification. (a) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, and except to the
extent required by applicable law, no Indemnitee shall be liable
to the Partnership or any Partner for any action taken or omitted
to be taken by such Indemnitee, provided that such Indemnitee
acted in good faith and such action or omission does not involve
the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.
The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere,
or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption
that an Indemnitee did not act in good faith or that an action or
omission involves gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Partnership shall, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, indemnify each Indemnitee against expenses (including legal
fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee,
in connection with any threatened, pending or completed claim,
demand, action, suit or proceeding to which such Indemnitee was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of
(i) such Indemnitee's status as a General Partner, any Affiliate
of the General Partner, any Person who is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the General Partner or any such
Affiliate, or any Person who is or was serving at the request of
the General Partner or any such Affiliate as a director, officer,
partner, trustee, employee or agent of another Person or (ii) any
action taken or omitted to be taken by such Indemnitee in any
capacity referred to in clause (i) of this Section 7.11(b),
relating to this Agreement or the property, business, affairs or
management of the Partnership or any of the Operating
Partnerships (provided that the Indemnitee acted in good faith
and the act or omission which is the basis of such claim, demand,
action, suit or proceeding does not involve the gross negligence
or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee).
(c) Expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in
defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding subject
to Section 7.11(b) shall be paid by the Partnership in advance of
the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking (which need not be
secured) by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount
if it shall ultimately be determined, by a court of competent
jurisdiction, that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified by the Partnership as authorized hereunder.
(d) The indemnification provided by Section 7.11(b) shall be in
addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be
entitled, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased
to serve in a capacity for which the Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
successors, assigns, administrators and personal representatives
of the Indemnitee.
(e) To the extent commercially reasonable, the Partnership shall
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the Indemnitees
against any liability which may be asserted against or expense
which may be incurred by an Indemnitee in connection with the
Partnership's activities, whether or not the Partnership would
have the power to indemnify an Indemnitee against such liability
under the provisions of this Agreement.
(f) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole
or in part under Section 7.11(b) because the Indemnitee had an
interest in the transaction with respect to which the
indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise
permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(g) The provisions of this Section 7.11 are for the benefit of
the Indemnitees and the heirs, successors, assigns,
administrators and personal representatives of the Indemnitees
and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of
any other Persons.
(h) For purposes of this Section 7.11, the Partnership shall be
deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of
an employee benefit plan whenever the performance of duties by
such Indemnitee for the Partnership also imposes duties on, or
otherwise involves services by, such Indemnitee to the plan or
participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed
on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan
pursuant to applicable law shall constitute "fines" within the
meaning of Section 7.11(b); and action taken or omitted by an
Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the
performance of duties by such Indemnitee for a purpose reasonably
believed by such Indemnitee to be in the interest of the
participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be
for a purpose which does not involve gross negligence or willful
misconduct.
(i) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners
to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions
set forth in this Agreement.
(j) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.11 or
any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or
impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be
indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the
Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.11 as in effect
immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with
respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring,
in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or
repeal, regardless of whether such claims may arise or be
asserted.
ARTICLE VIII
Rights and Obligations of Limited Partners
8.1 Limitation of Liability. The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement (including, without limitation, liability under Section 7.11).
8.2 Management of Business. No Limited Partner shall, in its
capacity as a Limited Partner, take part in the operation,
management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of
the Partnership's business, transact any business in the
Partnership's name or have the power to sign documents for or
otherwise bind the Partnership. The transaction of any such
business by a director, officer, employee or agent of a General
Partner or an Affiliate of the General Partner in such Person's
capacity as such (whether or not such Person is also a Limited
Partner) shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on
the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.
8.3 Outside Activities. Limited Partners shall be entitled to
and may have business interests and engage in business activities
in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including
business interests and activities in direct competition with the
Partnership or the Operating Partnerships. Neither the
Partnership, the Operating Partnerships nor any of the other
Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the
partnership relationship created hereby in any business ventures
of any Limited Partner.
8.4 Return of Capital. No Limited Partner shall be entitled to
the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to
the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this
Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be
considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided
for in this Agreement.
8.5 Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership. In
addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by
applicable law, each Limited Partner shall have the right for a
proper purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner's
interest in the Partnership, upon reasonable demand and at such
Limited Partner's own expense:
(a) to obtain true and full information regarding the status of
the business and financial condition of the Partnership;
(b) promptly after becoming available, to obtain a copy of the
Partnership's federal and state income tax returns for each year;
(c) to obtain a current list of the name and address of each
Partner as set forth in the Units Register;
(d) to obtain a description and statement of the Net Agreed
Value of any Capital Contribution made or agreed to be made by
each Partner, and the date on which such Partner became a
Partner;
(e) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of
Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto, together with
executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which this
Agreement, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all
amendments thereto have been executed; and
(f) to obtain such other information regarding the affairs of
the Partnership as may be just and reasonable;
provided, however, that the General Partner may keep confidential
from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General
Partner deems reasonable, any information which the General
Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets
or other information the disclosure of which the General Partner
in good faith believes could damage the Partnership or its
business or be in violation of applicable law, including, without
limitation, federal securities law, or which the Partnership is
required by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.
ARTICLE IX
Books, Records, Accounting and Reports
9.1 Books, Records and Accounting. The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept books and records with respect to the Partnership's business, which books and records shall at all times be kept at the principal office of the Partnership. Any books and records maintained by the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the Units Register, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, punch cards, disks, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device, provided that the records so kept are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on the accrual basis, or on a cash basis adjusted periodically to an accrual basis, as the General Partner shall determine in its sole discretion, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable law.
9.2 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Partnership for financial reporting purposes shall be the calendar year, unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise in its sole discretion.
9.3 Reports. (a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later
than 90 days after the close of each fiscal year, the General
Partner shall cause to be mailed to each Record Holder of LP
Units as of the last day of that fiscal year reports containing
financial statements of the Partnership for the fiscal year,
presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, including a balance sheet, statement of income,
statement of Partners' capital and statement of changes in
financial position, such statements to be audited by a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants selected by the
General Partner.
(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 45 days
after the close of each calendar quarter, except the last
calendar quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall
cause to be mailed to each Record Holder of LP Units as of the
last day of that calendar quarter a quarterly report for the
calendar quarter containing such financial and other information
as the General Partner deems appropriate.
ARTICLE X
Issuance of LP Certificates; Transfer and Exchange of LP Units
10.1 Initial Issuance of LP Certificates. Upon the issuance of LP Units to any Person, the Partnership will issue one or more LP Certificates in the name of such Person evidencing the number of such LP Units being so issued. LP Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner. No LP Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until manually countersigned by the Transfer Agent.
10.2 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) The Partnership will cause to be kept a register (the "Units Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 10.2(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration of LP Units and of transfers of such LP Units. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar for the purpose of registering LP Units and transfers of such LP Units as herein provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer or exchange of any LP Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 10.2(b), the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership will execute, and the Transfer Agent will countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder's instructions, one or more new LP Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number of LP Units as did the LP Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Every LP Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed on the reverse side thereof, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the General Partner or the Transfer Agent, as the case may be, duly executed, in either case by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Every LP Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer shall be duly accepted on the reverse side thereof, or be accompanied by a written instrument of acceptance to the same effect in form satisfactory to the General Partner or the Transfer Agent, as the case may be, duly executed, in either case by the transferee or such transferee's attorney duly authorized in writing. As a condition to the issuance of any new LP Certificate under this Section 10.2, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto.
10.3 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen LP Certificates. (a) If any mutilated LP Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor a new LP Certificate evidencing the same number of LP Units as did the LP Certificate so surrendered.
(b) If there shall be delivered to the General Partner and the Transfer Agent (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any LP Certificate and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any of their agents harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the General Partner or the Transfer Agent that such LP Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and upon its request the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new LP Certificate evidencing the same number of LP Units as did the LP Certificate so destroyed, lost or stolen.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new LP Certificate
under this Section 10.3, the General Partner may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and
any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the
Transfer Agent) connected therewith.
(d) Every new LP Certificate issued pursuant to this Section
10.3 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen LP Certificate
shall evidence an original additional Partnership Interest in the
Partnership, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen LP
Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall
be entitled to all the benefits of this Agreement equally and
proportionately with any and all other LP Units duly issued
hereunder.
10.4 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of an LP
Certificate for registration of transfer and satisfaction of the
requirements of Section 10.2(b) with respect thereto, (a) the
Partnership, the General Partner, the Transfer Agent and any
agent of any of the foregoing may deem and treat the Record
Holder as the absolute owner thereof and of the LP Units
evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever and (b) a
transferee shall not be entitled to distributions or allocations
or any other rights in respect of the LP Units evidenced thereby
other than the right to further transfer such LP Units.
ARTICLE XI
Transfer of GP Units
11.1 Transfer of GP Units. The General Partner may not transfer any GP Units unless (a) all of its GP Units are being transferred and the transferee assumes all of the rights and obligations of the General Partner hereunder, (b) the transfer is to an Affiliate of the General Partner or is in connection with the General Partner's merger or consolidation with, or a transfer of all or substantially all of the General Partner's assets to, another Person, or the transfer is approved by a Majority Interest, and (c) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership or any of the Operating Partnerships to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
11.2 Successor General Partner. Any transferee of GP Units
pursuant to Section 11.1 shall automatically be admitted to the
Partnership as the successor General Partner, and the transferor
of such GP Units shall automatically cease to be the General
Partner, effective at the time provided in Section 12.3. No such
transfer shall be deemed a withdrawal pursuant to Article XIII.
ARTICLE XII
Admission of Initial, Substituted and Additional Limited Partners and Successor General Partner
12.1 Admission of Initial Limited Partners. At and as of the Time of Delivery, the initial Record Holders of LP Units purchased pursuant to Section 4.2 shall automatically become Limited Partners and the Organizational Limited Partner shall automatically cease to be a Limited Partner.
12.2 Admission of Substituted Limited Partners. A transferee of
LP Units shall automatically be admitted to the Partnership as a
Limited Partner (and the transferor of such LP Units shall, if
such transferor is assigning all of such transferor's LP Units,
automatically cease to be a Limited Partner) at and as of the
time the transfer is registered on the Units Register pursuant to
Section 10.2.
12.3 Admission of Successor General Partner. A successor General
Partner approved pursuant to Section 13.1 or the proviso to
Section 14.1 or the transferee of all of the GP Units pursuant to
Section 11.1 shall be admitted to the Partnership as the
successor General Partner, effective as of the date an amendment
or restatement of the Certificate of Limited Partnership is filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware affecting
such substitution; provided, however, that no such successor
shall be so admitted to the Partnership until it has agreed in
writing to assume the former General Partner's obligations
hereunder. This Agreement and the Certificate of Limited
Partnership shall be amended as appropriate to reflect the
termination of the former General Partner as a general partner
and the admission of the successor General Partner.
12.4 Admission of Additional Limited Partners. (a) A Person
(other than the initial Record Holders of LP Units pursuant to
Section 4.2 or a transferee of LP Units) who makes a Capital
Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement
shall be admitted to the Partnership as an additional Limited
Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner (i) a written
instrument of acceptance in a form satisfactory to the General
Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, the power of attorney granted in
Section 2.4 hereof, and (ii) such other documents and instruments
as may be required in the discretion of the General Partner to
affect such Person's admission as an additional Limited Partner.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section
12.4, no Person shall be admitted as an additional Limited
Partner without the consent of the General Partner, which consent
may be given or withheld in the General Partner's sole
discretion. The admission of any Person as an additional Limited
Partner shall become effective at and as of the time the name of
such Person is recorded on the books and records of the
Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such
admission.
12.5 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership. The General Partner shall take all steps necessary and appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the records of the Partnership and, if necessary, this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership to reflect the admission of any Partner.
ARTICLE XIII
Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner
13.1 Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner. (a) Pipe Line
agrees to act as General Partner of the Partnership until the
later of (i) the date which is twenty-five years after the Time
of Delivery or (ii) the date the ESOP Loan is paid in full,
subject to its right to transfer all of its GP Units pursuant to
Section 11.1. At any time after the later of (i) the date which
is twenty-five years after the Time of Delivery or (ii) the date
the ESOP Loan is paid in full, the General Partner may withdraw
from the Partnership effective upon at least 90 days' advance
written notice to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take
effect on the date specified in such notice, provided that such
withdrawal is approved by an Eighty Percent Interest or the
Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that such
withdrawal would not result in the loss of limited liability of
any Limited Partner or result in the Partnership or any Operating
Partnership being treated as an association taxable as a
corporation for federal income tax purposes. Any such withdrawal
shall also constitute the withdrawal of the Manager from the
Operating Partnerships, as provided in the Operating Partnership
Agreements. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal,
a Majority Interest may, prior to the effective date of such
withdrawal, approve a successor General Partner. The Person so
approved (or its designated Affiliates) shall become the
successor general partner or partners of the Operating
Partnerships, as provided in the Operating Partnership
Agreements. If no successor General Partner is so approved, the
Partnership shall be dissolved pursuant to Section 14.1. Pipe
Line further agrees that it shall not withdraw as general partner
of any Operating Partnership, except in connection with its
withdrawal as General Partner.
(b) The General Partner may be removed only by an Eighty Percent Interest, and only if (i) in connection therewith, a successor General Partner is approved by a Majority Interest, (ii) the Partnership shall have received an Opinion of Counsel that the removal of the General Partner and the approval of a successor General Partner will not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership or any of the Operating Partnerships to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, (iii) the successor General Partner or an Affiliate thereof assumes the liabilities and obligations of the General Partner and its Affiliates under the Exchange Agreement and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the General Partner and its Affiliates from any liability or obligation arising out of, or causes the General Partner and its Affiliates to be released from, any and all liabilities and obligations (including loan guarantees) under fringe benefit plans sponsored by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates in connection with the business of the Partnership or any of the Operating Partnerships, except as otherwise prohibited by this Agreement, and (iv) all required regulatory approvals for removal of the Manager shall have been obtained. Such removal shall be effective upon the admission of the successor General Partner pursuant to Section 12.3. The Person so approved (or its designated Affiliates) shall become the successor general partner or partners of the Operating Partnerships, as provided in the Operating Partnership Agreements.
13.2 Sale of Former General Partner's Interest. If a successor
General Partner is approved pursuant to Section 13.1 or 14.2 or
the proviso to Section 14.1, such successor shall purchase the GP
Units of the former General Partner for an amount in cash equal
to the fair market value thereof, determined as of the date the
successor General Partner is admitted pursuant to Section 12.3.
The fair market value of the GP Units shall include the value of
all rights associated with being the General Partner, including,
without limitation, the General Partner's pro rata interest in
the Partnership, the right to receive incentive compensation
pursuant to the Incentive Compensation Agreement or compensation
under any other agreement between the Partnership and the General
Partner in effect on the date the successor General Partner is so
admitted, and shall be reduced by the value of the assumption by
the successor General Partner or its Affiliate of the obligations
of the General Partner and its Affiliates pursuant to Section
13.1(b)(iii). Such fair market value shall be determined by
agreement between the former General Partner and its successor
or, failing agreement within 30 days after the date the successor
General Partner is so admitted, by a firm of independent
appraisers jointly selected by the former General Partner and its
successor (or, if the former General Partner and its successor
cannot agree on the selection of such a firm within 45 days after
the date the successor General Partner is so admitted, by a firm
of independent appraisers selected by two firms, one of which
will be selected by the former General Partner and the other of
which will be selected by the successor).
ARTICLE XIV
Dissolution and Liquidation
14.1 Dissolution. The Partnership shall be dissolved, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a) expiration of the term as provided in Section 2.5;
(b) withdrawal of the General Partner pursuant to Section 13.1
(unless a Person becomes a successor General Partner prior to or
on the effective date of such withdrawal);
(c) bankruptcy or dissolution of the General Partner, or any
other event that results in the General Partner ceasing to be a
general partner in the Partnership (other than by reason of a
withdrawal or removal pursuant to Section 13.1 or a transfer
pursuant to Section 11.1); or
(d) an election by the General Partner to dissolve the
Partnership which is approved by a Two-Thirds Interest;
provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be dissolved
upon an event described in Section 14.1(b) if, within 90 days of
such event, all Partners agree in writing to continue the
business of the Partnership and to the appointment of a successor
General Partner.
For purposes of this Section 14.1, bankruptcy of the General Partner shall be deemed to have occurred when (i) it commences a voluntary proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) it seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator for it or for all or any substantial part of its properties, (iii) it is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or has entered against it a final and nonappealable order for relief, under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (iv) it executes and delivers a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (v) it files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any involuntary proceeding of the nature described in clause (i) above, or (vi) (1) any involuntary proceeding of the nature described in clause (i) above has not been dismissed 120 days after the commencement thereof, (2) the appointment without its consent or acquiescence of a trustee, receiver or liquidator for it or for all or any substantial part of its properties has not been vacated or stayed within 90 days of such appointment, or (3) such appointment has been stayed but is not vacated within 90 days after the expiration of any such stay.
14.2 Reconstitution. Upon dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with Section 14.1(b) or (c), and a failure of all Partners to agree to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment of a successor General Partner as provided in the proviso to Section 14.1, then within 180 days after the event described in Section 14.1(b) or (c), a Majority Interest may elect to reconstitute the Partnership and continue its business by forming a new partnership on terms identical to those set forth in this Agreement and having as a general partner a Person approved by a Majority Interest. Upon any such election by a Majority Interest, all Partners shall be bound thereby and shall be deemed to have consented thereto. Unless such an election is made within such 180-day period, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is made within such 180-day period, then (a) the reconstituted partnership shall continue until the end of the term set forth in Section 2.5 unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XIV and (b) all necessary steps shall be taken to cancel this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and to enter into a new partnership agreement and certificate of limited partnership, and the successor general partner may for this purpose exercise the powers of attorney granted the General Partner pursuant to this Agreement; provided that the right of a Majority Interest to reconstitute and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (i) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner and (ii) neither the Partnership nor the reconstituted partnership would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
14.3 Liquidation. Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless
the Partnership is reconstituted pursuant to Section 14.2, the
General Partner, or in the event the General Partner has
withdrawn from the Partnership, been removed or dissolved or
become bankrupt (as defined in Section 14.1), a liquidator or
liquidating committee approved by a Majority Interest shall be
the liquidator of the Partnership (the "Liquidator"). The
Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled
to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved
by a Majority Interest. The Liquidator shall agree not to resign
at any time without 15 days' prior written notice and (if other
than the General Partner) may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by notice of removal approved by a Majority
Interest upon dissolution, resignation or removal of the
Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have
and succeed to all rights, powers and obligations of the original
Liquidator) shall, within 30 days thereafter, be approved by a
Majority Interest. Except as expressly provided in this Article
XIV, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall
have and may exercise, without further authorization or approval
of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon
the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but
subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and
otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the
restrictions set forth in Article XVII) to the extent appropriate
or necessary in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator to
carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder
for and during such period of time as shall be reasonably
required in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator to complete
the winding-up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for
herein. The Liquidator shall liquidate the assets of the
Partnership and apply and distribute the proceeds of such
liquidation in the following order of priority, unless otherwise
required by mandatory provisions of applicable law:
(a) to creditors of the Partnership (including Partners); and
(b) to the Partners, in proportion to and to the extent of the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts; provided, however, that the Liquidator may place in escrow a reserve of cash or other assets of the Partnership for contingent liabilities in an amount determined by the Liquidator to be appropriate for such purposes.
14.4 Distribution in Kind. Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 14.3 requiring the liquidation of the assets of the
Partnership, but subject to the order of priorities set forth
therein, if on dissolution of the Partnership the Liquidator
determines that an immediate sale of part or all of the
Partnership's assets would be impractical or would cause undue
loss to the Partners, the Liquidator may, in its sole discretion,
defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except
those necessary to satisfy liabilities of the Partnership and
may, in its sole discretion, distribute to the Partners, or to
specific classes of Partners, as tenants in common, in lieu of
cash, and as their interests may appear in accordance with the
provisions of Section 14.3 (b), undivided interests in such
Partnership assets as the Liquidator deems not suitable for
liquidation. Any distributions in kind shall be subject to such
conditions relating to the disposition and management thereof as
the Liquidator deems reasonable and equitable and to any joint
ownership agreements or other agreements governing the ownership
and operation of such properties at such time. The Liquidator
shall determine the fair market value of any property distributed
in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as it may
adopt.
14.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership. Upon
the completion of the distribution of Partnership property
pursuant to Sections 14.3 and 14.4, the Partnership shall be
terminated, and the Liquidator (or the Limited Partners if
necessary) shall cause the cancellation of the Certificate of
Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as
a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the
State of Delaware and shall take such other actions as may be
necessary to terminate the Partnership.
14.6 Return of Capital. The General Partner shall not be
personally liable for the return of the Capital Contributions of
the Limited Partners, or any portion thereof, it being expressly
understood that any such return shall be made solely from
Partnership assets.
14.7 Waiver of Partition. Each Partner hereby waives any rights
to partition of the Partnership property.
ARTICLE XV
Amendment of Partnership Agreement
15.1 Amendments Which May be Adopted Solely by the General Partner. Subject to Section 15.3, the General Partner may amend any provision of this Agreement without the consent of any Limited Partner, and may execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:
(a) a change in the name of the Partnership, in the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership or in the registered office or registered agent of the Partnership;
(b) a change that the General Partner deems appropriate or
necessary to (i) qualify, or continue the qualification of, the
Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which
the Limited Partners have limited liability) under the laws of
any state or jurisdiction or (ii) ensure that neither the
Partnership nor any of the Operating Partnerships will be treated
as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax
purposes;
(c) a change to divide outstanding Units into a greater number
of Units, to combine outstanding Units into a smaller number of
Units or to reclassify Units in a manner that in the good faith
opinion of the General Partner, does not adversely affect any
class of Limited Partners in any material respect;
(d) a change that the General Partner in its sole discretion
deems appropriate or necessary to (i) satisfy any requirements,
conditions or guidelines contained in any order, rule or
regulation of any federal or state agency or contained in any
federal or state statute or (ii) facilitate the trading of any
Units or comply with any rule, regulation, requirement, condition
or guideline of any National Securities Exchange on which any
Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, or NASDAQ if
any Units are or will be quoted on NASDAQ;
(e) a change that is appropriate or necessary, as stated in an
Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, the Operating
Partnerships, the General Partner, its Affiliates and their
respective directors and officers from in any manner being
subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, or "plan asset" regulations adopted under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, whether or
not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently
applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(f) a change that is required or contemplated by any provision
of this Agreement, including, without limitation, Sections 4.3,
12.3 and 12.5;
(g) a change that in the good faith opinion of the General
Partner does not adversely affect the Limited Partners in any
material respect; or
(h) any changes or events similar to the foregoing.
15.2 Other Amendments. Amendments to this Agreement may be
proposed only by the General Partner. Subject to Section 15.3, a
proposed amendment (other than amendments adopted pursuant to
Section 15.1) shall be effective only when approved by a Majority
Interest. The General Partner shall notify all Limited Partners
upon final adoption of any proposed amendment.
15.3 Amendment Requirements. Notwithstanding the provisions of
Sections 15.1 and 15.2, (i) the approval of an Eighty Percent
Interest shall be required for any amendment unless the
Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that such
amendment would not result in the loss of limited liability of
any Limited Partner or result in the Partnership or any Operating
Partnership being treated as an association taxable as a
corporation for federal income tax purposes, (ii) no provision of
this Agreement which establishes a percentage of the Limited
Partners required to take or approve any action shall be amended
in any respect which would have the affect of reducing the voting
requirement, unless such amendment is approved by at least such
percentage of Limited Partners, and (iii) this Section 15.3 shall
be amended only with the approval of an Eighty Percent Interest.
ARTICLE XVI
Meetings
16.1 Meetings. Meetings of Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners holding an aggregate of at least 20% of the outstanding LP Units. Within 60 days after receipt by the General Partner of a written proposal to call a meeting signed by Limited Partners holding the requisite number of LP Units and indicating the purpose for which the meeting is to be called (or such longer period as shall be reasonably required by the General Partner in order to prepare documents required therefor), the General Partner shall cause a notice of the meeting to be given to each Limited Partner. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the General Partner within 60 days after the giving of notice of the meeting. A Majority Interest represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Partners.
16.2 Record Date. For purposes of determining the Limited
Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting or to
give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 16.4, the
General Partner may set a Record Date, which date for purposes of
notice of a meeting shall not be less than 10 days nor more than
60 days before the date of the meeting.
16.3 Conduct of Meeting. (a) The General Partner shall have full
power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any
meeting of Limited Partners or the solicitation of proxies or
consents in writing, including, without limitation, the
determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a
quorum, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any
proxies, and the determination of any controversies, votes or
challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or
voting. The General Partner shall designate an individual to
serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate an
individual to take the minutes of any meeting, which individuals
may be directors or officers of the General Partner. All minutes
shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by
the General Partner.
(b) The General Partner may vote its LP Units in such manner as
it in its sole discretion may determine.
16.4 Action Without a Meeting. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if approvals in writing setting forth the action so taken are signed by Limited Partners holding in the aggregate at least the minimum number of LP Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. If approvals to the taking of any action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient consents are deposited with the Partnership, and (c) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that giving effect to such approvals would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership or any of the Operating Partnerships to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE XVII
Certain Restrictions
17.1 Additional Units. (a) Without the prior approval of a Two- Thirds Interest, the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to issue any class or series of LP Units having preferences or other special or senior rights over the LP Units issued pursuant to Section 4.2.
(b) The General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to issue Units to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than pursuant to Section 4.1) unless (i) the Units are of a class which is, prior to such issuance, listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange or quoted by NASDAQ and the Net Agreed Value of the Contributed Property being contributed in exchange for such Units is at least equal to the number of Units being so issued times the Unit Price of such Units or (ii) such issuance is approved by a Majority Interest.
17.2 Certain Amendments. (a) Without the prior approval of a Two- Thirds Interest, the General Partner shall not amend the Incentive Compensation Agreement or permit the Partnership or any Operating Partnership to amend any compensation arrangement for the General Partner or the Manager, unless, in any case, such amendment does not, in the good faith opinion of the General Partner, adversely affect the Limited Partners in any material respect.
(b) The General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to approve any amendment to an Operating Partnership Agreement pursuant to Section 13.2 thereof unless such amendment is approved by a Majority Interest.
17.3 Sale of Assets. Without the prior approval of a Two-Thirds Interest, the General Partner shall not permit the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets owned by the Partnership and the Operating Partnerships.
17.4 Restricted Payments by General Partner or Manager. (a) The
General Partner shall not declare or make any Restricted Payment
unless (i) after giving effect thereto, the General Partner's
assets that can be reached by creditors (excluding its
Partnership Interest and any notes receivable from or payable to
the Partnership) would have a fair market value (using such
reasonable method of valuation as the General Partner may adopt)
equal to or greater than $5,000,000, (ii) the Partnership has
received an Opinion of Counsel that such Restricted Payment would
not result in the Partnership or any Operating Partnership being
treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal
income tax purposes, or (iii) such Restricted Payment is approved
by an Eighty Percent Interest.
(b) The General Partner shall not permit the Manager to declare
or make any Restricted Payment unless (i) after giving effect
thereto, the Manager's assets that can be reached by creditors
(excluding its partnership interest in any Operating Partnership
and any notes receivable from or payable to such Operating
Partnership) would have a fair market value (using such
reasonable method of calculation as the General Partner may
adopt) equal to or greater than $5,000,000, (ii) the Partnership
has received an Opinion of Counsel that such Restricted Payment
would not result in the Partnership or any Operating Partnership
being treated as an association taxable as a corporation for
federal income tax purposes, or (iii) such Restricted Payment is
approved by an Eighty Percent Interest.
ARTICLE XVIII
Right to Purchase Units
18.1 Right to Purchase Units. If fewer than 10% of the outstanding LP Units are held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, the General Partner shall have the right, which it may assign to the Partnership or any Affiliate, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the LP Units that remain outstanding and are held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates. Any such purchase shall be at a price per LP Unit in cash (the "Purchase Price") equal to the greater of the Unit Price on the date of purchase (the "Purchase Date") or the Issue Price for such LP Units, in either case multiplied by (a) 1.2, if the Purchase Date is after December 31, 1996 and on or prior to December 31, 2001, (b) 1.1, if the Purchase Date is after December 31, 2001 and on or prior to December 31, 2006, or (c) 1.0, if the Purchase Date is after December 31, 2006.
18.2 Notice of Election to Purchase. In the event the General
Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership
elects to exercise such right to purchase LP Units pursuant to
Section 18.1, the General Partner shall cause the Transfer Agent
to give written notice of such election to purchase (the "Notice
of Election to Purchase") to the Record Holders at least 10, but
not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice
of Election to Purchase shall also be published in daily
newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language
and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice
of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the
Purchase Price and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate
or the Partnership, as the case may be, has elected to purchase
such LP Units, upon surrender thereof in exchange for payment,
and at such place as specified. Any such Notice of Election to
Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of LP Units at his address as
reflected in the Units Register shall be conclusively presumed to
have been given whether or not the owner receives such notice.
18.3 Purchase and Transfer of Units. On or prior to the Purchase
Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as
the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an
amount equal to the amount required to purchase all outstanding
LP Units held by Persons other than the General Partner or its
Affiliates. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have
been duly given as aforesaid and if on or prior to the Purchase
Date the cash shall have been deposited with the Transfer Agent
in trust for the benefit of the holders of LP Units subject to
purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase
Date, whether or not any LP Units shall have been surrendered for
purchase, all rights of the holders of such LP Units (including,
without limitation, any rights pursuant to Articles V, VI and
XIV) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the
Purchase Price therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the
Transfer Agent of the LP Certificates representing such LP Units,
and such LP Units shall thereupon be transferred to the General
Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on
the Units Register, and the General Partner, its Affiliate or the
Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner
of all such LP Units from and after the Purchase Date and shall
have all rights as the owner of such LP Units.
ARTICLE XIX
General Provisions
19.1 Opinions Regarding Taxation as a Partnership. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the requirement, as a condition to any action proposed to be taken under this Agreement, that the Partnership receive an Opinion of Counsel that the proposed action would not result in the Partnership or any of the Operating Partnerships being treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes (a) shall not be applicable to the extent that the Partnership or any of the Operating Partnerships is at such time treated in all material respects as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes and (b) shall be deemed satisfied by an Opinion of Counsel containing conditions, limitations and qualifications which are acceptable to the General Partner in its sole discretion.
19.2 Personal Property. The Partnership Interest of any Partner
shall be personal property for all purposes.
19.3 Addresses and Notices. Any notice, demand, request, payment
or report required or permitted to be given or made to a Limited
Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by
first class mail or by other means of written communication to
the Limited Partner at such Limited Partner's address as shown on
the Units Register. Any notice to the Partnership or the General
Partner shall be deemed given if received in writing by the
General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership
designated pursuant to Section 2.3.
19.4 Headings. All article or section headings in this Agreement
are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or
affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
19.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto (including the
additional Persons that become Limited Partners as provided
herein) and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors,
legal representatives and assigns.
19.6 Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
pertaining thereto.
19.7 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict
performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this
Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a
breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or of
any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
19.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one
agreement binding on the parties hereto (including the additional
Persons that become Limited Partners as provided herein).
19.9 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is or
becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
hereof, or of such provision in other respects, shall not be
affected thereby.
19.10 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware.
In Witness Whereof, this Agreement has been duly executed by
the General Partner on behalf of itself and as agent and attorney-
in-fact for the Limited Partners, as of the date first above
written.
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY,
as General Partner
By: /S/ William H. Shea, Jr. Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 3.2
CONFORMED COPY
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
The undersigned, desiring to amend the Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Buckeye Partners, L.P. (the "Partnership") pursuant to the provisions of Section 17-202 of the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify as follows:
FIRST: The name of the limited partnership is Buckeye Partners, L.P.
SECOND: The Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership (the "Certificate") was filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of Delaware on February 10, 1998.
THIRD: Buckeye Pipe Line Company, having been assigned and having assumed, effective December 31, 1998, the general partnership interest in the Partnership formerly held by Buckeye Management Company, hereby amends and restates Section 4 of the Certificate in its entirety to read as follows:
4. General Partner. The name and the business
address of the sole general partner of the Partnership is:
Buckeye Pipe Line Company, a Delaware corporation,
5002 Buckeye Road, Emmaus, PA 18049.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned General Partner has duly executed this Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership as of the 26th day of April, 2002.
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY,
a Delaware corporation, as
sole General Partner
By: /S/ Steven C. Ramsey Name: Steven C. Ramsey Title: Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
CONFORMED COPY
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
OF
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY, L.P.
(As Amended and Restated Through March 25, 1998)
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY, L.P.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Formation 4 Name 4 Principal Office; Registered Office 4 Term 4 Organizational Certificate 5 Partnership Interests 5 Purpose 5 Capital Contributions 5 No Preemptive Rights 5 No Interest 6 Loans from Partners 6 No Withdrawal 6 Distributions 6 Tax Allocations 6 Preparation of Tax Returns 6 Tax Elections 7 Tax Controversies 7 Powers of General Partner 7 Duties of General Partner 8 Reliance by Third Parties 9 Compensation and Reimbursement of the General Partner 9 Partnership Funds 10 Outside Activities; Contracts with Affiliates; Loans to or from Affiliates 10 Tax Basis and Value Determinations 11 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standard of Care 12 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner 12 Limited Liability; Indemnification 13 Limitation of Liability 14 Management of Business 14 Outside Activities 14 Return of Capital 14 Books, Records and Accounting 15 Fiscal Year 15 Reports 15 Transfer of Partnership Interests 15 Successor Partners 16 Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner 16 Sale of Former General Partner's Interest 16 Dissolution 17 Reconstitution 18 Liquidation 19 Distribution in Kind 20 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership 20 Return of Capital 20 Waiver of Partition 20 Amendment of Partnership Agreement 20 Amendments Which May Be Adopted Solely by the General Partner 20 Other Amendments 21 Opinions Regarding Taxation as a Partnership 22 Address and Notices 22 Headings 22 Binding Effect 22 Integration 22 Waiver 22 Counterparts 22 Severability 22 Applicable Law 22 |
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT
OF
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY, L.P.
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, dated of December 23, 1986 (as amended and restated through March 25, 1998), is entered into by and among BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, and BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
ARTICLE I Definitions
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, apply to the terms used in this Agreement.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Person in question; provided, however, that, for purposes of the restrictive provisions of Sections 7.5, 7.6 and 7.8, neither the Limited Partner nor any of its subsidiaries shall be deemed to be Affiliates of the General Partner. As used herein, the term "control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement, Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company, a Pennsylvania corporation which provides services to the General Partner, shall be deemed an Affiliate of the General Partner.
"Agreed Value" of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property as of the time of contribution (or, in the case of cash, the amount thereof), as determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.
"Agreement" means this amended and restated agreement of limited partnership, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.
"Capital Contribution" means any Contributed Property which a Partner contributes to the Partnership.
"Certificate of Limited Partnership" means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as described in the first sentence of Section 2.5, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
"Contributed Property" means any cash, property or other consideration (in such form as may be permitted under the Delaware Act) contributed to the Partnership.
"Contributing Partner" means any Partner contributing Contributed Property to the Partnership.
"Conveyance Agreement" means the conveyance agreement, dated as of November 18, 1986, between the Original Limited Partner and the Partnership.
"Delaware Act" means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended from time to time, and any successor to such Act.
"Designated Expenses" means all costs and expenses (direct or indirect) incurred by the General Partner which are directly or indirectly related to the formation, capitalization, business or activities of the Partnership (including, without limitation, expenses, direct or indirect, reasonably allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates); provided, however, that Designated Expenses shall not include (a) any cost or expense for which the General Partner is not entitled to be reimbursed by reason of the proviso at the end of Section 7.10(b); (b) any cost or expense for which the General Partner and its Affiliates are not entitled to be reimbursed pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement; or (c) severance costs not permitted to be reimbursed pursuant to the Management Agreement in connection with the withdrawal of the General Partner.
"Exchange Agreement" means the Exchange Agreement, dated as of August 12, 1997, among the Partnership, the General Partner, the Limited Partner, the Limited Partner's other operating partnerships, the MLP General Partner and Glenmoor Ltd. (formerly BMC Acquisition Company), a Delaware corporation, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.
"General Partner" means Pipe Line, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership and in its capacity as manager pursuant to the Management Agreement, and any successor to Pipe Line as such general partner and manager.
"Indemnitee" means the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner, any Person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the General Partner or any such Affiliate, or any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any such Affiliate as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another Person.
"Limited Partner" means the MLP, in its capacity as the limited partner of the Partnership, and any successor to the MLP as such limited partner.
"Liquidator" has the meaning specified in Section 12.3.
"Management Agreement" means the management agreement, dated as of November 18, 1986, between the Partnership and the General Partner, pursuant to which the General Partner will manage the Partnership, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.
"MLP" means Buckeye Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
"MLP Agreement" means the amended and restated agreement of limited partnership, dated as of the date hereof, governing the rights and obligations of the partners of the MLP and certain related matters, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.
"MLP General Partner" means Buckeye Management Company, a Delaware corporation, in its capacity as general partner of the MLP, and any successor to Buckeye Management Company as such general partner.
"Net Agreed Value" means, with respect to any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such Contributed Property reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by the Partnership upon contribution of such Contributed Property or to which such Contributed Property is subject when contributed.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.
"Original Limited Partner" means Buckeye Pipe Line Company, an Ohio corporation.
"Partner" means the General Partner or the Limited Partner.
"Partnership" means Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
"Partnership Interest" means a general partner's or limited partner's interest in the Partnership.
"Person" means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, a trust, an unincorporated organization, an association or any other entity.
"Pipe Line" means Buckeye Pipe Line Company, a Delaware corporation.
ARTICLE II Organizational Matters
2.1 Formation. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the General Partner and Original Limited Partner originally formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The Original Limited Partner's limited partnership interest in the Partnership was transferred (by operation of law) to an Affiliate and the MLP purchased such limited partnership interest. The Partners, pursuant to the authority contained in Article XIII of this Agreement, do hereby amend and restate this Agreement in its entirety to continue the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act and to set forth the rights and obligations of the Partners and certain matters related thereto. Except as expressly provided herein to the contrary, the rights and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act.
2.2 Name. The name of the Partnership shall be, and the business of the Partnership shall be conducted under the name of, "Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P."; provided, however, that (a) the Partnership's business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed advisable by the General Partner, (b) the General Partner in its sole discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and (c) the name under which the Partnership conducts business shall include "Ltd." or "Limited Partnership" (or similar words or letters) where necessary for purposes of maintaining the limited liability status of the Limited Partner or otherwise complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires.
2.3 Principal Office; Registered Office. (a) The principal office of the Partnership shall be 3900 Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other places as the General Partner deems advisable.
(b) The address of the Partnership's registered office in the State of Delaware shall be the Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801, and the name of the Partnership's registered agent for service of process at such address shall be The Corporation Trust Company.
2.4 Term. The Partnership shall continue in existence until the close of Partnership business on December 31, 2036 or until the earlier termination of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII.
2.5 Organizational Certificate. An Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership has been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall cause to be filed such other certificates or documents as may be required for the formation, operation and qualification of a limited partnership in Delaware and any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business. The General Partner shall thereafter file any necessary amendments to the Certificate of Limited Partnership and such other certificates and documents and do all things requisite to the maintenance of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or as a partnership in which the Limited Partner has limited liability) under the laws of Delaware and any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business.
2.6 Partnership Interests. Effective as of the date hereof, the Limited Partner has a 99% Partnership Interest and the General Partner has a 1% Partnership Interest.
ARTICLE III Purpose
The purpose and business of the Partnership shall be to engage in any lawful activity for which limited partnerships may be organized under the Delaware Act.
ARTICLE IV Capital Contributions
4.1 Capital Contributions. (a) Prior to the date hereof, the Original Limited Partner contributed to the Partnership certain assets and the Partnership assumed certain liabilities pursuant to the Conveyance Agreement, and the General Partner contributed to the Partnership an amount equal to 1/99th of the Net Agreed Value of the Capital Contribution then being made by the Original Limited Partner.
(b) Whenever a Partner makes a Capital Contribution (other than Capital Contributions required by Section 4.1(a)), the other Partner shall contribute to the Partnership Contributed Property such that the Net Agreed Value of the Capital Contribution then being made by the General Partner is equal to 1/99th of the Net Agreed Value of the Capital Contribution then being made by the Limited Partner, unless the General Partner receives an Opinion of Counsel that the failure to make such additional Capital Contribution would not result in the Partnership being treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
4.2 No Preemptive Rights. No Partner shall have any preemptive, preferential or other right with respect to the issuance or sale of securities that may be issued or sold by the Partnership.
4.3 No Interest. No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions.
4.4 Loans from Partners. Loans or other advances by a Partner to or for the account of the Partnership shall not be considered Capital Contributions.
4.5 No Withdrawal. No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw any part of its Capital Contributions or to receive any distributions from the Partnership except as provided herein.
ARTICLE V Distributions
5.1 Distributions. (a) From time to time, not less often than quarterly, the General Partner shall review the Partnership's accounts to determine whether distributions are appropriate. The General Partner may make such cash distributions as it, in its sole discretion, may determine, without being limited to current or accumulated income or gains, from any Partnership funds, including, without limitation, Partnership revenues, Capital Contributions or borrowed funds. In its sole discretion, the General Partner may also distribute to the Partners other Partnership property or securities of the Partnership or other entities.
All distributions shall be made concurrently to both Partners and shall be made 99% to the Limited Partner and 1% to the General Partner.
(b) Amounts paid pursuant to Section 7.4 or the Management Agreement shall not be deemed to be distributions for purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI Income Tax Matters
6.1 Tax Allocations. For federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Partnership shall be allocated 99% to the Limited Partner and 1% to the General Partner.
6.2 Preparation of Tax Returns. The General Partner shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all returns of Partnership income, gains, losses, deductions, credits and other items necessary for federal and state income tax purposes and shall use all reasonable efforts to furnish to the Limited Partner within 90 days after the close of the taxable year the tax information reasonably required for federal and state income tax reporting purposes. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gains, losses, deductions, credits and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes, unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise in its sole discretion.
6.3 Tax Elections. Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall, in its sole discretion, determine whether to make any available election.
6.4 Tax Controversies. Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner (as defined in Section 6231 of the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership's expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership's affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. The Limited Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any and all things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.
ARTICLE VII Management and Operation of Business; Indemnification
7.1 Powers of General Partner. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all powers to control and manage the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and the Limited Partner shall not have any power to control or manage the business and affairs of the Partnership.
In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or which are granted to the General Partner under any other provisions of this Agreement, the General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered, in the name of and on behalf of the Partnership, to do and perform any and all acts and things which it deems appropriate or necessary in the conduct of the business and affairs of the Partnership, including, without limitation, the following:
(a) to lend or borrow money, to assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for indebtedness and other liabilities and to issue evidences of indebtedness;
(b) to buy, lease (as lessor or lessee), sell, mortgage, encumber or otherwise acquire or dispose of any or all of the assets of the Partnership (subject to the provisions of Article XIV);
(c) to own, use and invest the assets of the Partnership;
(d) to purchase or sell products, services and supplies;
(e) to make tax, regulatory and other filings, and to render periodic and other reports to governmental agencies or bodies having jurisdiction over the assets or business of the Partnership;
(f) to open, maintain and close bank accounts and to draw checks and other orders for the payment of money;
(g) to negotiate, execute and perform any contracts, conveyances or other instruments;
(h) to distribute Partnership cash;
(i) to utilize the services of officers and employees of the General Partner or of any other Persons and to select and dismiss employees (if any) and outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors;
(j) to maintain insurance for the benefit of the Partnership and the Partners;
(k) to form, participate in or contribute or loan cash or property to limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations or similar arrangements;
(l) to expand the business activities in which the Partnership is engaged or engage in new business activities by acquisition or internal development; and
(m) to conduct litigation and incur legal expenses and otherwise deal with or settle claims or disputes;
in each case at such times and upon such terms and conditions as the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary, and subject to any express restrictions contained elsewhere in this Agreement.
7.2 Duties of General Partner. The General Partner shall manage the business and affairs of the Partnership in the manner the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the General Partner's duties shall include the following:
(a) to take possession of the assets of the Partnership;
(b) to staff and operate the business of the Partnership with the officers and employees of the General Partner or of other Persons;
(c) to render or cause to be rendered engineering, environmental and other technical services and perform or cause to be performed financial, accounting, logistical and other administrative functions for the Partnership;
(d) to render such reports and make such periodic and other filings as may be required under applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations;
(e) to provide or cause to be provided purchasing, procurement, repair, and other services for the Partnership; and
(f) to conduct the business and affairs of the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement and all applicable laws, rules and regulations;
in each case in such a manner as the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary.
7.3 Reliance by Third Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner as if it were the Partnership's sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. The Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies which may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.
7.4 Compensation and Reimbursement of the General Partner. (a) Except as provided in this Section 7.4 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the Management Agreement or any other agreement contemplated or permitted hereby, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as General Partner to the Partnership.
(b) The General Partner shall be promptly reimbursed for all Designated Expenses, in addition to any reimbursement as a result of indemnification in accordance with Section 7.10 hereof or Section 3.02 of the Management Agreement. The General Partner shall determine such Designated Expenses in any reasonable manner determined by it.
(c) The General Partner may propose and adopt fringe benefit plans, including, without limitation, plans comparable to those that covered employees employed by the predecessor to the Partnership and plans involving the issuance of direct or indirect equity interests in the Partnership, for the benefit of employees of the Partners, the Partnership or any of their respective Affiliates, in respect of services performed, or obligated to be performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership.
7.5 Partnership Funds. The funds of the Partnership shall be deposited in such account or accounts as shall be designated by the General Partner, and shall not be commingled with the funds of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates. All withdrawals from or charges against such accounts shall be made by the General Partner or by its agents, which agents may be Affiliates of the General Partner. Funds of the Partnership may be invested as determined by the General Partner.
7.6 Outside Activities; Contracts with Affiliates; Loans to or from Affiliates. (a) The General Partner shall not have any business interests or engage in any business activities except for those relating to the Partnership.
(b) Any Affiliate of the General Partner and any director, officer, partner or employee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership, for their own account and for the account of others, without having or incurring any obligation to offer any interest in such businesses or activities to the Partnership or either Partner. Neither the Partnership nor either of the Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the partnership relationship governed hereby in any such business interests.
(c) The Limited Partner hereby approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance of the Conveyance Agreement and the Management Agreement and agrees that the General Partner is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters contemplated hereby on behalf of the Partnership without any further approval or vote of the Limited Partner, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement.
(d) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.4(a), the General Partner and its Affiliates may enter into contracts with, or render services to, the Partnership, provided that such contracts or services are on terms that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership. The contracts and services approved, ratified or confirmed pursuant to Section 7.6(c) shall be deemed to satisfy the terms of this Section 7.6(d).
(e) Neither the General Partner nor any of its
Affiliates shall sell, transfer or convey property to, or
purchase property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly,
except pursuant to transactions that are fair and reasonable to
the Partnership. The conveyance of property pursuant to the
Conveyance Agreement shall be deemed to satisfy the terms of this
Section 7.6(e).
(f) The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to the Partnership funds needed by the Partnership for such periods of time as the General Partner may determine; provided, however, that such General Partner or Affiliate may not charge the Partnership interest greater than the rate (including points or other financing charges or fees) that would be charged to the Partnership by unrelated lenders on comparable loans. The Partnership shall reimburse the General Partner or its Affiliate, as the case may be, for any costs incurred by the General Partner or Affiliate in connection with the borrowing of funds obtained by such General Partner or Affiliate and loaned to the Partnership.
(g) The Partnership may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates; provided, however, that the Partnership may not lend funds to the General Partner or an Affiliate unless such funds consist of funds available after provision for working capital and such reserves as the General Partner deems appropriate and such loan shall bear interest at the rate (including points or other financing charges or fees) that the General Partner would be charged by unrelated lenders on comparable loans.
7.7 Tax Basis and Value Determinations. To the extent that the General Partner is required pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement to establish fair market values or allocate amounts realized, tax basis, Agreed Values or Net Agreed Values, the General Partner shall establish such values and make such allocations in a manner that is reasonable and fair to the Limited Partner, taking into account all applicable laws, governmental regulations, rulings and decisions. The General Partner may, in its sole discretion, modify or revise such allocations in order to comply with such laws, governmental regulations, rulings or decisions or to the extent it otherwise deems such modification or revision appropriate or necessary. The General Partner is authorized, to the extent deemed by it to be appropriate or necessary, to utilize the services of an independent appraiser in establishing such values or allocations and the General Partner shall in such cases be entitled to rely on the values or allocations established by such independent appraiser.
7.8 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standard of Care. (a)
Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the
Management Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby,
(i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between the
General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and
the Partnership or the Limited Partner, on the other hand, or
(ii) whenever this Agreement, the Management Agreement or any
other agreement contemplated hereby provides that the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates shall act in a manner which is,
or provide terms which are, fair and/or reasonable to the
Partnership or the Limited Partner, the General Partner or such
Affiliate shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such
action or provide such terms considering, in each case, the
relative interests of each party to such conflict, agreement,
transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to
such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and
any applicable generally accepted accounting or engineering
practices or principles, and in the absence of bad faith by the
General Partner or such Affiliate, the resolution, action or
terms so made, taken or provided by the General Partner or such
Affiliate shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any
other agreement contemplated hereby or a breach of any standard
of care or duty imposed hereby or under the Delaware Act or any
other applicable law, rule or regulation.
(b) Whenever this Agreement, the Management Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby provides that the General Partner or any of its Affiliates is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the General Partner or such Affiliate shall be entitled, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to consider only such interests and factors as it desires and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or the Limited Partner, or (ii) in its "good faith" or under another express standard, the General Partner or such Affiliate shall act under such express standard and, except as required by applicable law, shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or applicable law.
7.9 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner. (a) The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any certificate, document or other instrument believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
(b) The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers, and other consultants and advisors selected by it and any opinion or advice of any such Person as to matters which the General Partner believes to be within such Person's professional or expert competence shall be full and complete authorization and protection with respect to any action taken or suffered or omitted by the General Partner hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such opinion or advice.
(c) The General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.
7.10 Limited Liability; Indemnification. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, and except to the extent required by applicable law, no Indemnitee shall be liable to the Partnership or any Partner for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such Indemnitee, provided that such Indemnitee acted in good faith and such action or omission does not involve the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that an Indemnitee did not act in good faith or that an action or omission involves gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Partnership shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, indemnify each Indemnitee against expenses
(including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by such
Indemnitee, in connection with any threatened, pending or
completed claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding to which such
Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party,
by reason of (i) such Indemnitee's status as a General Partner,
any Affiliate of the General Partner, any Person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the General Partner or
any such Affiliate, or any Person who is or was serving at the
request of the General Partner or any such Affiliate as a
director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another
Person or (ii) any action taken or omitted to be taken by such
Indemnitee in any capacity referred to in clause (i) of this
Section 7.10(b), relating to this Agreement or the property,
business, affairs or management of the Partnership (provided the
Indemnitee acted in good faith and the act or omission which is
the basis of such action, suit or proceeding does not involve the
gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee).
(c) Expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding subject to Section 7.10(b) shall be paid by the Partnership in advance of the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking (which need not be secured) by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined, by a court of competent jurisdiction, that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Partnership as authorized hereunder.
(d) The indemnification provided by Section 7.10(b) shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in a capacity for which the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns, administrators and personal representatives of the Indemnitee.
(e) To the extent commercially reasonable, the Partnership shall purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the Indemnitees against any liability which may be asserted against or expense which may be incurred by an Indemnitee in connection with the Partnership's activities, whether or not the Partnership would have the power to indemnify an Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
(f) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under Section 7.10(b) because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(g) The provisions of this Section 7.10 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and the heirs, successors, assigns, administrators and personal representatives of the Indemnitees and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
ARTICLE VIII Rights and Obligations of the Limited Partner
8.1 Limitation of Liability. The Limited Partner shall have no liability under this Agreement (including, without limitation, liability under Section 7.10) except as provided in Section 4.1.
8.2 Management of Business. The Limited Partner shall not take part in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership's business, transact any business in the Partnership's name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership.
8.3 Outside Activities. The Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership. Neither the Partnership nor the General Partner shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the Partnership relationship created hereby in any business ventures of the Limited Partner.
8.4 Return of Capital. The Limited Partner shall not be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX Books, Records, Accounting and Reports
9.1 Books, Records and Accounting. The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept books and records with respect to the Partnership's business, which books and records shall at all times be kept at the principal office of the Partnership. Any books and records maintained by the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, punch cards, disks, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device, provided that the records so kept are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on the accrual basis, or on a cash basis adjusted periodically to an accrual basis, as the General Partner shall determine in its sole discretion, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable law.
9.2 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Partnership for financial reporting purposes shall be the calendar year, unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise in its sole discretion.
9.3 Reports. (a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall deliver to the Limited Partner reports containing financial statements of the Partnership for the fiscal year, presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including a balance sheet, statement of income, statement of Partners' capital and statement of changes in financial position, such statements to be audited by a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.
(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 45 days after the close of each calendar quarter, except the last calendar quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall deliver to the Limited Partner a quarterly report for the calendar quarter containing such financial and other information as the General Partner deems appropriate.
ARTICLE X Transfer of Partnership Interests; Successor Partners
10.1 Transfer of Partnership Interests. Neither Partner may transfer any of its Partnership Interest unless (a) all of its Partnership Interest is being transferred and the transferee assumes all of the rights and obligations of such Partner hereunder, (b) the transfer is to an Affiliate of such Partner or is in connection with a Partner's merger or consolidation with, or a transfer of all or substantially all of a Partner's assets to, another Person, or the transfer is approved by the other Partner, and (c) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of the Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
10.2 Successor Partners. Any Person becoming a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or the proviso to Section 12.1 or the transferee of the entire Partnership Interest of a Partner pursuant to Section 10.1 shall be admitted to the Partnership as a successor Partner, effective as of the date an amendment or restatement of the Certificate of Limited Partnership is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware effecting such substitution; provided, however, that no such successor shall be so admitted until it has agreed in writing to assume the former Partner's obligations hereunder. This Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership shall be amended as appropriate to reflect the termination of the former Partner and the admission of the successor Partner.
ARTICLE XI Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner
11.1 Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner. (a) Subject to regulatory approval, upon the withdrawal of the MLP General Partner from the Limited Partner, the General Partner shall withdraw from the Partnership, effective as of the date on which the MLP General Partner's withdrawal is effective. If a successor MLP General Partner is approved as permitted by Section 13.1(a) of the MLP Agreement, the Person so approved (or its designated Affiliate) shall become the successor General Partner. If no successor MLP General Partner is approved, the Partnership shall be dissolved pursuant to Section 12.1.
(b) The removal of the MLP General Partner from the Limited Partner shall also constitute the removal of the General Partner from the Partnership, effective as of the date on which the MLP General Partner's removal is effective. The Person approved as successor MLP General Partner (or its designated Affiliate) shall become the successor General Partner.
11.2 Sale of Former General Partner's Interest. If any Person becomes a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or 12.2 or the proviso to Section 12.1, such successor shall purchase from the former General Partner, and the former General Partner shall sell to such successor, the Partnership Interest of the former General Partner for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value thereof, determined as of the effective date of the departure of the former General Partner. Such fair market value shall be determined by agreement between the former General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the date the successor General Partner is so admitted, by a firm of independent appraisers jointly selected by the former General Partner and its successor (or, if the former General Partner and its successor cannot agree on the selection of such a firm within 45 days after the date the successor General Partner is so admitted, by a firm of independent appraisers selected by two firms, one of which will be selected by the former General Partner and the other of which will be selected by the successor).
ARTICLE XII Dissolution and Liquidation
12.1 Dissolution. The Partnership shall be dissolved, and its affairs wound up, upon:
(a) expiration of its term as provided in Section 2.4;
(b) withdrawal of the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 (unless a Person becomes a successor General Partner prior to or on the effective date of such withdrawal);
(c) bankruptcy or dissolution of the General Partner, or any other event that results in the General Partner ceasing to be a general partner in the Partnership (other than by reason of a withdrawal or removal pursuant to Section 11.1 or a transfer pursuant to Section 10.1);
(d) an election by the General Partner to dissolve the Partnership which is approved by the Limited Partner; or
(e) dissolution of the Limited Partner (unless the Limited Partner (if a partnership) is continued or reconstituted in accordance with its partnership agreement);
provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be dissolved upon an event described in Section 12.1(b) if, within 90 days of such event, the Limited Partner agrees in writing to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment of a successor General Partner.
For purposes of this Section 12.1, bankruptcy of the General Partner shall be deemed to have occurred when (i) it commences a voluntary proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) it seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator for it or for all or any substantial part of its properties, (iii) it is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or has entered against it a final and nonappealable order for relief, under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (iv) it executes and delivers a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (v) it files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any involuntary proceeding of the nature described in clause (i) above, or (vi)(1) any involuntary proceeding of the nature described in clause (i) above has not been dismissed 120 days after the commencement thereof or (2) the appointment without its consent or acquiescence of a trustee, receiver or liquidator for it or for all or any substantial part of its properties has not been vacated or stayed within 90 days of such appointment, or (3) such appointment has been stayed but is not vacated within 90 days after the expiration of any such stay.
12.2 Reconstitution. Upon dissolution of the Partnership in
accordance with Section 12.1(b) or (c), and a failure of all
Partners to agree to continue the business of the Partnership and
to the appointment of a successor General Partner as provided in
the proviso to Section 12.1, then within 180 days after the event
described in Section 14.1(b) or (c), the remaining Partners may
elect to reconstitute the Partnership and continue its business
by forming a new partnership on terms identical to those set
forth in this Agreement and having as a general partner a Person
approved by such Partners. Upon any such election by such
Partners, all Partners shall be bound thereby and shall be deemed
to have consented thereto. Unless such an election is made
within such 180-day period, the Partnership shall conduct only
activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election
is made within such 180-day period, then (a) the reconstituted
partnership shall continue until the end of the term set forth in
Section 2.4 unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this
Article XII and (b) all necessary steps shall be taken to cancel
this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and to
enter into a new partnership agreement and certificate of limited
partnership; provided that the right to reconstitute and to
continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may
not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion
of Counsel that (i) the exercise of the right would not result in
the loss of limited liability of the Limited Partner and (ii)
neither the Partnership nor the reconstituted partnership would
be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal
income tax purposes.
12.3 Liquidation. Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the Partnership is reconstituted pursuant to Section 12.2, the General Partner, or in the event the General Partner has withdrawn from the Partnership, been removed or dissolved or become bankrupt (as defined in Section 12.1), a liquidator or liquidating committee approved by the Limited Partner shall be the liquidator of the Partnership (the "Liquidator"). The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by the Limited Partner. The Liquidator shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days' prior written notice and (if other than the General Partner) may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by the Limited Partner. Upon dissolution, resignation or removal of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and obligations of the original Liquidator) shall, within 30 days thereafter, be approved by the Limited Partner. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or approval of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Article XIV) to the extent appropriate or necessary in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during such period of time as shall be reasonably required in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator to complete the winding-up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein. The Liquidator shall liquidate the assets of the Partnership and apply and distribute the proceeds of such liquidation in the following order of priority, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable law:
(a) to creditors of the Partnership (including Partners); and
(b) to the Partners, 99% to the Limited Partner and 1% to the General Partner;
provided, however, that the Liquidator may place in escrow a reserve of cash or other assets of the Partnership for contingent liabilities in an amount determined by the Liquidator to be appropriate for such purposes.
12.4 Distribution in Kind. Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 12.3 requiring the liquidation of the assets of the
Partnership, but subject to the order of priorities set forth
therein, if on dissolution of the Partnership the Liquidator
determines that an immediate sale of part or all of the
Partnership's assets would be impractical or would cause undue
loss to the Partners, the Liquidator may, in its sole discretion,
defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except
those necessary to satisfy liabilities of the Partnership and
may, in its sole discretion, distribute to the Partners, as
tenants in common, in lieu of cash, and as their interests may
appear in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.3(b),
undivided interests in such Partnership assets as the Liquidator
deems not suitable for liquidation. Any distributions in kind
shall be subject to such conditions relating to the disposition
and management thereof as the Liquidator deems reasonable and
equitable and to any joint ownership agreements or other
agreements governing the ownership and operation of such
properties at such time. The Liquidator shall determine the fair
market value of any property distributed in kind using such
reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.
12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership. Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership property pursuant to Sections 12.3 and 12.4, the Partnership shall be terminated, and the Liquidator (or the Limited Partner if necessary) shall cause the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware and shall take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership.
12.6 Return of Capital. The General Partner shall not be personally liable for the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partner, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.
12.7 Waiver of Partition. Each Partner hereby waives any rights to partition of the Partnership property.
ARTICLE XIII Amendment of Partnership Agreement
13.1 Amendments Which May Be Adopted Solely by the General Partner. The General Partner may amend any provision of this Agreement without the consent of the Limited Partner, and may execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:
(a) a change in the name of the Partnership, in the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership or in the registered office or registered agent of the Partnership;
(b) a change that the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary to (i) qualify, or continue the qualification of, the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the Limited Partner has limited liability) under the laws of any state or jurisdiction or (ii) ensure that the Partnership will not be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes;
(c) a change that the General Partner in its sole discretion deems appropriate or necessary to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any order, rule or regulation of any federal or state agency or contained in any federal or state statute;
(d) a change that is appropriate or necessary, as determined by an Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, the General Partner, its Affiliates and their respective directors and officers from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or "plan asset" regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, whether or not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(e) a change that is required or contemplated by any provision of this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 10.2;
(f) a change that in the good faith opinion of the General Partner does not adversely affect the Limited Partner in any material respect; or
(g) any changes or events similar to the foregoing.
13.2 Other Amendments. Amendments to this Agreement (other than amendments adopted pursuant to Section 13.1) shall be effective only when approved by both Partners.
ARTICLE XIV Sale of All Assets
Without the prior approval of the Limited Partner, the General Partner shall not, acting on behalf of the Partnership, sell or otherwise dispose of, or consent to the sale or other disposition of, all or substantially all of the assets owned directly or indirectly by the Partnership.
ARTICLE XV General Provisions
15.1 Opinions Regarding Taxation as a Partnership. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the requirement, as a condition to any action proposed to be taken under this Agreement, that the Partnership receive an Opinion of Counsel that the proposed action would not result in the Partnership being treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes (a) shall not be applicable to the extent that the Partnership is at such time treated in all material respects as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes and (b) shall be deemed satisfied by an Opinion of Counsel containing conditions, limitations and qualifications which are acceptable to the General Partner in its sole discretion.
15.2 Address and Notices. Any notice to the Partnership, the General Partner or the Limited Partner shall be deemed given if received by it in writing at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3.
15.3 Headings. All article or section headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
15.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns.
15.5 Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
15.6 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
15.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one agreement binding on both of the parties hereto. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto.
15.8 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof, or of such provision in other respects, shall not be affected thereby.
15.9 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the Partners as of the date first above written.
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY
as General Partner
By: /S/ C. Richard Wilson President |
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.,
as Limited Partner
By BUCKEYE MANAGEMENT COMPANY,
as General Partner
By: /S/ Steven C. Ramsey Senior Vice President |
Exhibit 10.2
CONFORMED COPY
AMENDED AND RESTATED MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Dated as of October 4, 2001
Between
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY, L.P.
and
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS Article I Appointment of the Manager 1 Article II Power and Duties of the Manager 2.01 Powers of the Manager 1 2.02 Duties of the Manager 2 2.03 Outside Activities 3 Article III Liability of the Manager; Indemnification 4 3.01 Liability of the Manager 4 3.02 Indemnification 4 Article IV Reimbursement 5 Article V No Interest Conveyed to the Manager 5 Article VI Termination; Successor Manager 5 6.01 Termination 5 6.02 Successor Manager 6 Article VII Reports, Records and Access 6 Article VIII General Provisions 6 8.01 Reliance by Third Parties 6 8.02 Address and Notices 6 8.03 Headings 6 8.04 Binding Effect 6 8.05 Integration 6 8.06 Waiver 6 8.07 Counterparts 7 8.08 Accounting Principles 7 8.09 Severability 7 8.10 Applicable Law 7 |
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of October 4, 2001, is entered into between BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), and BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Manager").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Partnership was formed to engage in any lawful activity for which limited partnerships may be organized under the laws of the State of Delaware; and
WHEREAS, the Partnership wishes to appoint the Manager to manage, operate, direct and exercise full and exclusive control over the business and affairs of the Partnership, and the Manager wishes to accept such appointment, in accordance with the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Appointment of the Manager The Partnership hereby appoints the Manager as the Partnership's managing agent, and the Manager accepts its |
appointment by the Partnership, to manage, operate, direct and exercise full and exclusive control over the business and affairs of the Partnership, subject to the restrictions contained in the Partnership Agreement (hereinafter defined).
ARTICLE II
Powers and Duties of the Manager
2.01 Powers of the Manager. Subject to such limitations as may be imposed by law, this Agreement or the Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of March 25, 1998 (as amended from time to time, the "Partnership Agreement"), between the Manager and Buckeye Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Buckeye Partners"), the Manager is hereby authorized and empowered, in the name of and on behalf of the Partnership, to do and perform any and all acts and things which it deems appropriate or necessary in the conduct of the business and affairs of the Partnership, including, without limitation, the following:
(a) to lend or borrow money, to assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for indebtedness and other liabilities and to issue evidences of indebtedness;
(b) to buy, lease (as lessor or lessee), sell, mortgage, encumber or otherwise acquire or dispose of any or all of the assets of the Partnership;
(c) to own, use and invest the assets of the
Partnership;
(d) to purchase or sell products, services and
supplies;
(e) to make tax, regulatory and other filings with, and to render periodic and other reports to, governmental agencies or bodies having jurisdiction over the assets or business of the Partnership;
(f) to open, maintain and close bank accounts and to draw checks and other orders for the payment of money;
(g) to negotiate, execute and perform any contracts, conveyances or other instruments;
(h) to make allocations of income and deductions of the Partnership and make distributions in accordance with the Partnership Agreement;
(i) to utilize the services of officers and employees of the Manager or of any other entities and to select and dismiss employees (if any) and outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors;
(j) to maintain insurance for the benefit of the Partnership and its partners;
(k) to form, participate in or contribute or loan cash or property to limited or general partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, other entities, joint ventures or similar arrangements;
(l) to expand the business activities in which the Partnership is engaged or engage in new business activities by acquisition or internal development; and
(m) to conduct litigation and incur legal expenses and otherwise deal with or settle claims or disputes;
in each case at such times and upon such terms and conditions as the Manager deems appropriate or necessary and subject to any express restrictions on such powers as provided in the Partnership Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge that so long as the Manager is the general partner of the Partnership under the Partnership Agreement (the "General Partner"), the Manager shall have and be entitled to exercise all of the same hereunder as the General Partner is entitled to have and entitled to exercise under the Partnership Agreement.
2.02 Duties of the Manager. The Manager shall manage the business and affairs of the Partnership in the manner which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Manager's duties shall include the following:
(a) to take possession of the assets and properties of the Partnership;
(b) to staff and operate the business of the Partnership with the officers and employees of the Manager or of other entities;
(c) to render or cause to be rendered engineering, environmental and other technical services and perform or cause to be performed financial, accounting, logistical and other administrative functions for the Partnership;
(d) to render such reports and make such periodic and other filings as may be required under applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations;
(e) to provide or cause to be provided purchasing, procurement, repair and other services for the Partnership;
(f) to prepare, on an annual and quarterly basis, financial statements of the Partnership, which, in the case of annual financial statements, shall have been audited by a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the Manager, and to furnish to the Partnership such other information and reports concerning the conduct of the business and affairs of the Partnership as the Partnership shall reasonably require;
(g) to deposit all funds of the Partnership in such account or accounts as shall be designated by the Manager (which funds shall not be commingled with the funds of the Manager);
(h) to maintain records of the assets owned by the Partnership and books of account and to make such records and books of account available for inspection by the Partnership or its duly authorized representatives during regular business hours at the principal office of the Manager;
(i) to prepare and distribute in a timely manner to all partners of the Partnership tax information reasonably required for federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes;
(j) to cause to be filed such certificates and to do such other acts as may be required by law to qualify and maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership in all relevant jurisdictions; and
(k) to conduct the business and affairs of the Partnership in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and all applicable laws, rules and regulations;
in each case in such a manner as the Manager deems appropriate or necessary.
2.03 Outside Activities. Subject to such limitations as may be imposed pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement, the Manager shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the business of the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership, for its own account and for the account of others, without having or incurring any obligation to offer any interest in such businesses or activities to the Partnership or any of its partners. Neither the Partnership nor any of its partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the relationship created hereby in any such business interests.
ARTICLE III
Liability of the Manager; Indemnification
3.01 Liability of the Manager. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, and except to the extent required by applicable law, neither the Manager, any affiliate of the Manager, any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Manager or any such affiliate or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Manager or any such affiliate as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another person (each an "Indemnitee" and collectively, the "Indemnitees") shall be liable to the Partnership or any of its partners for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such Indemnitee, provided that such Indemnitee acted in good faith and such action or omission does not involve the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that an action or omission involves bad faith or willful misconduct.
3.02 Indemnification.
(a) The Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify each Indemnitee against expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding to which such Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of the Indemnitee's status as (x) a general partner or affiliate thereof or (y) a director, officer, partner, employee, or agent of the Manager or an affiliate or (z) a person serving at the request of the Manager in another entity in a similar capacity and which relates to this Agreement or the property, business, affairs or management of the Partnership (provided the Indemnitee acted in good faith and the act or omission which is the basis of such demand, claim, action, suit or proceeding does not involve the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee).
(b) Expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in defending any proceeding subject to Section 3.02(a) shall be paid by the Partnership in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking (which need not be secured) by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined, by a court of competent jurisdiction, that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Partnership as authorized hereunder.
(c) The indemnification provided by Section 3.02(a)
shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee
may be entitled and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has
ceased to serve in a capacity for which the Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, successors, assigns, administrators and personal
representatives of the Indemnitee.
(d) To the extent commercially reasonable, the
Partnership shall purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of
the Indemnitees against any liability which may be asserted
against or expense which may be incurred by such Indemnitees in
connection with the Partnership's activities, whether or not the
Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Indemnitees
against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under Section 3.02(a) because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement and the Partnership Agreement.
(f) The provisions of this Article III are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and the heirs, successors, assigns, administrators and personal representatives of the Indemnitees and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other persons.
(g) As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliate" means, with respect to any person, any other person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person in question.
ARTICLE IV
Reimbursement
Except as otherwise provided in the Exchange Agreement, dated as of August 12, 1997, among the Partnership, the Manager and certain of their affiliates, the Partnership shall promptly reimburse the Manager for all costs and expenses (direct or indirect) incurred by the Manager which are directly or indirectly related to the business or activities of the Partnership (including, without limitation, expenses, direct or indirect, reasonably allocated to the Manager by its affiliates). The Partnership shall also promptly reimburse any former Manager for all such costs incurred by it after a successor becomes the Manager hereunder. If the former Manager has been removed, these costs may include any severance costs required as a result of such former Manager ceasing to be the Manager of the Partnership.
ARTICLE V
No Interest Conveyed to the Manager
This Agreement is a management agreement only and does not convey to the Manager any right, title or interest in or to any assets of the Partnership, except that the Manager shall have and is hereby granted a license to enter upon and use such assets for the purpose of performing its duties and obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE VI
Termination; Successor Manager
6.01 Termination. Upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, this Agreement shall terminate.
6.02 Successor Manager. In the event the General Partner withdraws or is removed from the Partnership and a successor becomes the General Partner, the successor General partner shall automatically become the Manager of the Partnership and shall succeed to all of the rights and obligations of the Manager hereunder (provided that such succession shall not affect the rights of any former Manager to reimbursement provided by Article IV hereof), and the former Manager and its successor shall execute an instrument evidencing such succession. As soon as practicable after the effective date of such succession, the former Manager shall, at the cost and expense of the Partnership, deliver all records, data and information pertaining to the business and affairs of the Partnership to the successor Manager.
ARTICLE VII
Reports, Records and Access
The Manager shall prepare, maintain and furnish all reports, records and information required by the Partnership Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
General Provisions
8.01 Reliance by Third Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no lender, purchaser or other person shall be required to look to the application of proceeds hereunder or to verify any representation by the Manager as to the extent of the interest in the Partnership's assets that the Manager is entitled to encumber, sell or otherwise use, and any such lender, purchaser or other person shall be entitled to rely exclusively on the representations of the Manager as to its authority to enter into such financing or sale arrangements and shall be entitled to deal with the Manager, without joinder of any other persons, as if it were the sole party in interest therein, both legally and beneficially.
8.02 Address and Notices. Any notice under this Agreement to the Partnership or the Manager shall be deemed given if received by it in writing at the principal office of the Partnership designated in the Partnership Agreement.
8.03 Headings. All article or section headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
8.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
successors but shall not be assignable except as provided in
Section 6.02.
8.05 Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
8.06 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
8.07 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one agreement binding on the parties hereto.
8.08 Accounting Principles. All financial reports requested to be rendered under this Agreement shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
8.09 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof, or of such provision in other respects, shall not be affected thereby.
8.10 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the date first above written.
PARTNERSHIP:
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY, L.P.
By: BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY,
As General Partner
By:/s/ Stephen C. Muther Stephen C. Muther Senior Vice President-Administration, General Counsel and Secretary |
MANAGER:
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY
By:/s/ Stephen C. Muther Stephen C. Muther Senior Vice President-Administration, General Counsel and Secretary |
EXHIBIT 10.4
CONFORMED COPY
AMENDED AND RESTATED EXCHANGE AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of August 12, 1997, as amended and restated as of May 6, 2002, is entered into among BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "General Partner"), BUCKEYE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, a Delaware corporation and owner of all of the outstanding common stock of the General Partner ("BMC"), BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), and BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY OF MICHIGAN, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership LAUREL PIPE LINE COMPANY, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, EVERGLADES PIPE LINE COMPANY, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and BUCKEYE PIPE LINE HOLDINGS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (formerly Buckeye Tank Terminals Company, L.P.) (together, the "Operating Partnerships"), and GLENMOOR, LTD., a Delaware corporation (formerly BMC Acquisition Company) and owner of all of the outstanding common stock of BMC ("Glenmoor").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, BMC, the Partnership, the General Partner, the Operating Partnerships and Glenmoor entered into the Exchange Agreement, dated as of August 12, 1997 (the "Prior Agreement"), which was consummated on such date effective as of 11:59 P.M.;
WHEREAS, the parties to the Prior Agreement desire to amend
and restate the Prior Agreement in its entirety to reflect that
(i) the General Partner has replaced BMC as the general partner
of the Partnership, (ii) the parties desire that Section 3.01 of
the Prior Agreement be revised to eliminate the "Forfeiture
Payment," and (iii) the names of certain parties have been
changed;
WHEREAS, the General Partner is the general partner of the Partnership and the Operating Partnerships;
WHEREAS, the Operating Partnerships are owned 99% by the Partnership, and 1% by the General Partner (except that Buckeye Pipe Line Company of Michigan, L.P., is owned 98.01% by Laurel Pipe Line Company, L.P., and 1.99% by the General Partner);
WHEREAS, the Partnership is governed pursuant to an Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the "Master Partnership Agreement"), dated as of December 31, 1998, between the General Partner and the limited partners of the Partnership (the "Limited Partners"); the Operating Partnerships, other than Laurel Pipe Line Company, L.P., are governed pursuant to similar Amended and Restated Agreements of Limited Partnership, each dated as of December 23, 1986, as amended, between the General Partner and the Partnership; and Laurel Pipe Line Company, L.P. is governed pursuant to an Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated October 21, 1992, between the General Partner and the Partnership (collectively, the "Operating Partnership Agreements");
WHEREAS, in connection with the Prior Agreement, a special committee (the "Special Committee") of the disinterested directors of BMC (as the former general partner of the Partnership), determined it to be in the best interests of the Partnership (i) to issue limited partnership units of the Partnership ("LP Units") to Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company, a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company") whose shares of capital stock were owned by the Glenmoor Employee Stock Ownership Plan (now known as the Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and referred to herein as the "ESOP"), in exchange for 63,000 shares of Glenmoor Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, stated value $1,000 per share (the "Glenmoor Preferred Stock"), (ii) to have the Partnership convert the Glenmoor Preferred Stock into Glenmoor Common Stock ("Glenmoor Common Stock"), and (iii) to contribute the Glenmoor Common Stock to the Operating Partnerships (collectively, the "Restructuring");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the LP Unit Subscription Agreement, dated as of the date of the Prior Agreement (the "LP Unit Subscription Agreement"), the Partnership issued 1,286,573 LP Units to the Company in exchange for the Glenmoor Preferred Stock;
WHEREAS, pursuant to a notice to Glenmoor as of the date of the Prior Agreement, the Partnership converted the Glenmoor Preferred Stock received pursuant to the LP Unit Subscription Agreement into 484,616 shares of Glenmoor Common Stock (the "Exchange Shares");
WHEREAS, the Partnership contributed an undivided interest in the Exchange Shares to the Operating Partnerships as of the date of the Prior Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Operating Partnerships transferred and assigned the Exchange Shares to the General Partner as of the date of the Prior Agreement in exchange for the release of certain obligations that the Partnership had to BMC (as the former general partner of the Partnership) and the General Partner, and the Operating Partnerships had to the General Partner; Glenmoor and BMC caused the General Partner to receive the Exchange Shares and to release such obligations of the Partnership and the Operating Partnerships; and the Exchange Shares were further transferred by the General Partner to BMC and by BMC to Glenmoor.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE EXCHANGE
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Operating Partnerships have transferred and assigned the Exchange Shares to the General Partner in exchange for the release of certain obligations of the Partnership to BMC (as the former general partner of the Partnership) and the General Partner, and of the Operating Partnerships to the General Partner, as set forth in Article II below.
ARTICLE II
RELEASE OF OBLIGATIONS
2.01 Obligations to Reimburse for Executive Compensation. (a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, Glenmoor, BMC and the General Partner, for themselves and their affiliates, successors and assigns, hereby and irrevocably release, relinquish and discharge the Partnership and the Operating Partnerships from any and all liability, obligation, claim, demand, action or suit of any kind or nature, in law or in equity, whatsoever, known or unknown, which may be asserted for or on account of or arising out of or in any manner relating to the Partnership's and/or the Operating Partnerships' obligations pursuant to Section 7.4(b) of the Master Partnership Agreement and the Operating Partnership Agreements or otherwise to reimburse Glenmoor, BMC, or the General Partner for total compensation paid for executive level duties performed for BMC or the General Partner with respect to the functions of operations, finance, legal, marketing and business development, and treasury, as well as President of the General Partner following the date of the Prior Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge that the individuals who performed those executive level functions as of the date of the Prior Agreement were: Michael P. Epperly, Steven C. Ramsey, Stephen C. Muther, William H. Shea, Jr., David J. Martinelli and C. Richard Wilson, respectively, and their total compensation in all forms on a pro forma annualized basis for 1996 was $2,300,000; the parties further acknowledge that Michael P. Epperly and C. Richard Wilson have resigned and their respective duties have been assumed by the remaining executives. Nothing in this Section 2.01(a) shall be deemed to waive the obligations of the Partnership and the Operating Partnerships to reimburse BMC and the General Partner for (i) employee fringe benefits and retirement benefits for their executives relating to services performed prior to the date of the Prior Agreement, (ii) obligations under severance agreements with their executives to the extent currently reimbursable under the Master Partnership Agreement or (iii) any obligations in respect of their executives which are not related to compensation, including, without limitation, indemnification obligations.
(b) Glenmoor, BMC and the General Partner agree, unless the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership, to perform the executive level functions referred to in Section 2.01(a) for the benefit of the Partnership and the Operating Partnerships in a manner satisfactory to the board of directors of the General Partner.
2.02 ESOP Contributions Generally. (a) From the date of the Prior Agreement until all principal, interest and premium is paid in full under the Amended and Restated Note Agreement, dated as of the date of the Prior Agreement, among the ESOP, The Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Life Insurance Company (the "Note Agreement") (the "ESOP Period"), and only following the exhaustion of the "Top Up Reserve Fund" provided for in paragraph (b) below, the Partnership and the Operating Partnerships shall reimburse the General Partner and BMC for (i) cash contributions made by the Company to the ESOP pursuant to the terms thereof, as necessary for the ESOP to make all payments of principal, interest (including additional interest payable as the result of an interest rate increase under paragraph 7 of the Note Agreement) and premium due under the Note Agreement (excluding, however, the accelerated portion of any payments which have become due and payable upon acceleration of such indebtedness as the result of a default under the Note Agreement), (ii) any income taxes incurred by the Company on the sale of LP Units made to satisfy the redemption obligations described in Section 2.03 below, and (iii) routine administrative charges and expenses common to employee stock ownership plans incurred in connection with the operation of the ESOP, in each case, to the extent distributions from LP Units owned by the Company are not sufficient to make all such payments. Following the ESOP Period, the Partnership and the Operating Partnerships shall have no further obligations to reimburse BMC or the General Partner for contributions to the ESOP.
(b) Top Up Reserve Fund. For purposes of this Agreement, the "Top Up Reserve Fund" shall mean the amount set forth on a statement delivered by BMC (as the former general partner of the Partnership) to the Partnership on the date of the Prior Agreement which is equal to the amount of all reimbursements associated with the ESOP made to BMC (as the former general partner of the Partnership) by the Partnership prior to the date of the Prior Agreement, minus the actual cash payments by the ESOP for principal and interest payments and routine administrative charges and expenses actually incurred by the ESOP as of the date of the Prior Agreement.
2.03 No ESOP Contributions for Departing Employees. BMC and the General Partner acknowledge that neither the Partnership nor the Operating Partnerships shall be obligated to reimburse Glenmoor, BMC or the General Partner for obligations to redeem the ESOP accounts of departing employees upon the termination of their employment with the Company, or for any other costs or expenses of or relating to the operation of the ESOP other than those specified in Section 2.02(a) above.
2.04 Representations and Warranties. Glenmoor, BMC and the
General Partner hereby represent and warrant to the Partnership
and the Operating Partnerships, as of the date of the Prior
Agreement, that (a) neither the Company nor any entity treated as
a single employer with the Company under Sections 414(b), 414(c),
414(m), or 414(o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), or Section 4001(b) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), has
incurred any liability under any provision of ERISA or other
applicable law relating to the ESOP; (b) the ESOP has been
administered, in all material respects, in compliance with its
terms and complies, both in form and operation, with the
applicable provisions of ERISA (including, without limitation,
the funding and prohibited transactions provisions thereof), the
Code and other applicable laws; (c) the ESOP has been determined
by the Internal Revenue Service to be qualified within the
meaning of Section 401 of the Code, and none of Glenmoor or BMC
or the General Partner is aware of any fact or circumstances
which would adversely affect the qualified status of the ESOP;
and (d) the restructuring of the ESOP contemplated by this
Agreement does not constitute a "prohibited transaction" under
ERISA.
2.05 Certain Agreements. (a) The parties acknowledge that
nothing in the Services Agreement, dated as of the date of the
Prior Agreement (the "Services Agreement"), among BMC, the
General Partner and the Company shall be deemed to enlarge the
obligation of the Partnership to reimburse BMC or the General
Partner under the Master Partnership Agreement or the obligation
of the Operating Partnerships to reimburse the General Partner
under the Operating Partnership Agreements. Furthermore, the
Partnership and the Operating Partnerships shall have no
obligation to reimburse BMC or the General Partner for the
amounts paid to the Company pursuant to Article V of the Services
Agreement unless such amounts were paid as reimbursement for
costs and expenses for which BMC or the General Partner would be
entitled to reimbursement under the Master Partnership Agreement
or the Operating Partnership Agreements, as such agreements have
been modified by the terms hereof, if BMC or the General Partner
had incurred such costs and expenses directly. In addition, the
Partnership and the Operating Partnerships shall have no
obligation to reimburse BMC or the General Partner for amounts
paid to the Company pursuant to Article VI of the Services
Agreement unless such amounts were paid as indemnification for
damages and expenses for which BMC or the General Partner would
be entitled to indemnification under the Master Partnership
Agreement or the Operating Partnership Agreements if BMC or the
General Partner had incurred such damages or expenses directly.
(b) The Partnership and each of the Operating Partnerships
waive, as of the date of the Prior Agreement, any right of offset
or counterclaim or similar right it may have against BMC or the
General Partner with respect to their respective obligations to
reimburse BMC or the General Partner, as the case may be, for
contributions to the ESOP pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof.
(c) The parties acknowledge that the Partnership and the Operating Partnerships are not obligated to reimburse BMC or the General Partner if any tax is owed by Glenmoor, BMC or the General Partner pursuant to Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code as a result of the Restructuring.
ARTICLE III
FORFEITURE
3.01 Failure to Act as General Partner Over the ESOP Period.
Except to the extent this obligation is assumed by a successor
general partner pursuant to Section 3.02, the General Partner
shall continue to serve as the general partner of the Partnership
and the Operating Partnerships until the end of the ESOP Period
unless the Partnership shall be sooner dissolved under
Section 14.1(d) of the Master Partnership Agreement.
3.02 Assumption of Obligations by a Successor General Partner.
If the General Partner is removed as general partner of the
Partnership or one or more of the Operating Partnerships during
the ESOP Period (but not if the General Partner voluntarily
withdraws as general partner) pursuant to Section 13.1(b) of the
Master Partnership Agreement, the General Partner may cause the
successor general partner of the Partnership and the Operating
Partnerships to assume its respective obligations, liabilities
and duties under this Agreement.
3.03 ESOP Loan Secured. The Partnership and the Operating
Partnerships acknowledge that Glenmoor, BMC and the General
Partner have each executed and delivered a Guaranty Agreement
pursuant to which each has guaranteed the payment and performance
of all obligations under the Note Agreement and related documents
(the "Note Obligations"), and that such guaranty obligations are
secured by substantially all assets of Glenmoor, BMC and the
General Partner, respectively.
ARTICLE IV
TAX INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
4.01 Indemnification by the General Partner. Glenmoor, BMC and the General Partner shall, jointly and severally, reimburse and indemnify and hold the Partnership and each Operating Partnership harmless against and in respect of any and all damage, loss, liability, deficiency, settlement payments, interest (including any increase in the rate of interest paid on any loan to the ESOP), penalties, obligations, levies or expenses (including without limitation reasonable legal fees and expenses) (collectively, "Damages") in connection with, resulting from or relating to one of (i) the failure of the lenders to the ESOP to qualify pursuant to Section 133 of the Internal Revenue Code for the interest received exclusion in connection with the loan to the ESOP as a result of the Restructuring or (ii) any excise tax imposed as a result of the Restructuring (each, a "Tax Risk"). The Partnership and the Operating Partnerships shall pay to the ESOP or the lenders to the ESOP (in the case of the Tax Risk described above in clause (i) of this Section 4.01), or to the appropriate taxing authority or other third party (in the case of the Tax Risk described above in clause (ii) of this Section 4.01) any Damages in the event that a Tax Risk is incurred, subject to the foregoing reimbursement obligation. None of Glenmoor, BMC, the General Partner or their respective affiliates shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Partnership or any Operating Partnership for any indemnification payment made pursuant to this Article IV.
4.02 Selection of Tax Risk. The disinterested directors of the
board of directors of the General Partner shall determine the Tax
Risk for which the Partnership and the Operating Partnerships
shall be entitled to indemnification from Glenmoor, BMC and the
General Partner and such directors may make such determination at
any time. Such determination shall be communicated to the entire
board of directors in writing and once so communicated may not be
modified or revoked.
4.03 Loan From Partnership. Subject to Section 7.7(g) of the
Master Partnership Agreement, in the event that a Tax Risk is
incurred, and the Partnership or the Operating Partnerships incur
the Damages associated therewith, the General Partner shall issue
to the Partnership a promissory note (the "Note") for the amount
of the Damages, with interest calculated at the rate (including
points or other financing charges or fees) that the General
Partner would be charged by an unrelated lender on a comparable
loan. The Note shall be payable by right of offset of the
amounts due to the General Partner under the Amended and Restated
Incentive Compensation Agreement dated as of March 22, 1996, as
amended from time to time, until the Note is paid in full.
ARTICLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS
5.01 Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes all prior discussions and agreements among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and contains the sole and entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
5.02 Headings. The headings used in this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and do not define or
limit the provisions hereof.
5.03 Waiver and Amendment. No failure by any party to insist
upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or
condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy
consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any
such breach or of any other covenant, duty, agreement or
condition. Any amendment to this Agreement shall be effective
only if in a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
5.04 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is or
becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
hereof, or of such provision in other respects, shall not be
affected thereby.
5.05 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
applicable to a contract executed and performed in such State,
without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles
thereof.
5.06 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but
all of which together will constitute one and the same
instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this
Agreement amending and restating the Prior Agreement to be signed
by its officer duly authorized as of the date first above
written.
BUCKEYE MANAGEMENT COMPANY
By: /s/ Steven C. Ramsey Name: Steven C. Ramsey Title: Senior V.P. Finance and CFO |
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
By: BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY,
as General Partner
By: /s/ Steven C. Ramsey Name: Steven C. Ramsey Title: Senior V.P. Finance and CFO |
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY
By: /s/ Steven C. Ramsey Name: Steven C. Ramsey Title: Senior V.P. Finance and CFO |
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY
OF MICHIGAN, L.P.
By: BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY,
as General Partner
By: /s/ Steven C. Ramsey Name: Steven C. Ramsey Title: Senior V.P. Finance and CFO |
[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ONTO NEXT PAGE]
[SIGNATURES CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE]
LAUREL PIPE LINE COMPANY, L.P.
By: BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY,
as General Partner
By: /s/ Steven C. Ramsey Name: Steven C. Ramsey Title: Senior V.P. Finance and CFO |
EVERGLADES PIPE LINE COMPANY, L.P.
By: BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY,
as General Partner
By: /s/ Steven C. Ramsey Name: Steven C. Ramsey Title: Senior V.P. Finance and CFO |
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE HOLDINGS, L.P.
By: BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY,
as General Partner
By: /s/ Steven C. Ramsey Name: Steven C. Ramsey Title: Senior V.P. Finance and CFO |
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY, L.P.
By: BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY,
as General Partner
By: /s/ Steven C. Ramsey Name: Steven C. Ramsey Title: Senior V.P. Finance and CFO |
GLENMOOR, LTD.
By: /s/ Steven C. Ramsey Name: Steven C. Ramsey Title: Senior V.P. Finance and CFO |
Exhibit 10.5
CONFORMED COPY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT
THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of May 6, 2002, by and between Glenmoor, Ltd., a Delaware corporation ("Glenmoor"), and Buckeye Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), with reference to the following background:
A. A provision was included as Section 3.01 in the Exchange Agreement (the "Exchange Agreement"), dated as of August 12, 1997, among Buckeye Pipe Line Company, a Delaware corporation ("BPL"), Glenmoor and certain other parties, that had the effect of delaying the recognition for income tax purposes of certain income by BPL and Glenmoor. Management of BPL now desires to amend and restate the Exchange Agreement to reflect that BPL is now the general partner of the Partnership, to delete the forfeiture payment provision in Section 3.01 of the Exchange Agreement (which will bring greater certainty to the tax planning of BPL and Glenmoor, and will better align the interests of BPL, as general partner of the Partnership, and the limited partners of the Partnership), and to reflect that the names of certain parties have changed (the "Amendment"). The form of the Amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
B. Glenmoor, as the indirect owner of BPL, desires that the Amendment be authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership, the Operating Partnerships and the other parties named therein.
C. As a condition to recommending the Amendment, a special committee of the board of directors of BPL (the "Special Committee") has required that Glenmoor enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Terms used herein that are not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them or referred to in the Amendment.
2. Acknowledgements, Representations and Warranties of
Glenmoor.
(a) Glenmoor acknowledges and agrees that:
(i) The Amendment will result in an acceleration and possible increase in the federal, state and local income tax liabilities of Glenmoor and its shareholders.
(ii) Payment of the tax liabilities of Glenmoor and its shareholders is solely the responsibility of Glenmoor and its shareholders, and neither the Partnership nor the Operating Partnerships are obligated to reimburse Glenmoor, Buckeye Management Company ("BMC") or BPL for or on account of any such income tax liabilities.
(iii) Repayment of any loan to Glenmoor or its shareholders used in whole or in part to pay any of the tax liabilities of Glenmoor or its shareholders (the "Tax Loan") shall be solely the liability of Glenmoor, its shareholders and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
(iv) Neither the Partnership nor the Operating Partnerships shall have any direct or indirect liability or obligation for or in respect of the Tax Loan, and neither the Partnership nor the Operating Partnerships shall be asked to provide any security for repayment of the Tax Loan or otherwise provide any credit support to Glenmoor or its shareholders in connection with the Tax Loan; provided, however, that the parties recognize and acknowledge that the lenders under the Note Agreement for the ESOP have, and the lender under the Tax Loan will have, certain security interests, pledges and other rights in the stock or assets of Glenmoor, BMC and BPL, including, without limitation, amounts payable to such entities by the Partnership.
(v) All costs and expenses of Glenmoor, BMC and BPL in connection with the Amendment and the Tax Loan, including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of attorneys and accountants in rendering tax and other advice to Glenmoor and its shareholders, the loan placement fees payable to the lender of the Tax Loan and other costs incurred in connection with the Tax Loan and the Amendment shall be payable by Glenmoor and shall not be subject to reimbursement directly or indirectly by the Partnership. All costs associated with the Special Committee, including, without limitation, the fees payable to members of the Special Committee, the fees and expenses of its attorneys, and other costs incurred by or at the request of the Special Committee shall be payable by BPL, and such costs shall be reimbursed by the Partnership.
(b) Glenmoor represents and warrants to the Partnership that the manner in which the Partnership will recognize and report on the execution, delivery and performance of the Amendment will not:
(i) result in the creation or incurrence of any material liability or obligation of the Partnership or the Operating Partnerships that would be required to be reflected in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied in the financial statements of the Partnership or the Operating Partnerships, other than the costs to be reimbursed by the Partnership as set forth in subsection (a)(v) above and appropriate disclosure of the execution and delivery of the Amendment in the footnotes to such financial statements;
(ii) negatively affect the cash flow of the Partnership or the Operating Partnerships, other than the effects of the reimbursement of costs by the Partnership as set forth in subsection (a)(v) above; and
(iii) adversely affect in any material respect the income tax liabilities to be recognized by the Partnership, its limited partners and the Operating Partnerships under present law.
(c) Nothing in this Agreement shall constitute a representation or warranty by Glenmoor regarding the accounting or income tax treatment of the transactions effected in 1997 by the Exchange Agreement except as specifically set forth in Article IV thereof.
3. Glenmoor Liability.
(a) Glenmoor shall be liable to the Partnership for
(i) any damages directly resulting from or arising out of
any breach of this Agreement, and (ii) any costs incurred by
the Partnership in enforcing this Agreement if the
Partnership is successful in obtaining a judgment or
settlement that provides some benefit to the Partnership.
(b) A claim under this section must be brought by the Partnership within one year after the date that the independent directors of BPL first have actual knowledge of facts that reasonably give them notice that the Partnership may have a claim for breach of this Agreement. As used in this subsection, the term "independent directors" means directors who (i) are not officers or employees of BPL or affiliates or associates of any such officer or employee, and (ii) do not have a direct or indirect ownership interest in BPL or Glenmoor. This subsection shall be tolled during any period when there are no independent directors of BPL.
4. Governing Law. This Agreement is made pursuant to, and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to that state's conflict of laws provisions.
5. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of
any particular provision of this Agreement shall not affect
the other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement
shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or
unenforceable provisions were omitted.
6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an orig
inal; and any person may become a party hereto by executing
a counterpart hereof, but all of such counterparts together
shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. It shall
not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement or any
counterpart hereof to produce or account for any of the
other counterparts.
7. Headings. The headings used in this Agreement have
been inserted for convenience of reference only and do not
define or limit the provisions hereof.
8. Waiver and Amendment. No failure by any party to
insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty,
agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any
right or remedy upon a breach thereof shall constitute a
waiver of any such breach or of any other covenant, duty,
agreement or condition. Any amendment to this Agreement
shall be effective only if in a writing signed by each of
the parties hereto.
9. Assignment; No Third Party Benefit. This Agreement and
all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns, but neither this Agreement
nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder
shall be assigned by any party without the prior written
consent of the other parties. This Agreement is not
intended and shall not be construed to confer upon any other
person except the parties hereto any rights, interests,
benefits, obligations or remedies hereunder. Any assignment
in contravention of this Section shall be null and void and
without legal effect on the rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder.
10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has duly
executed this Agreement.
GLENMOOR, LTD.
By: /s/ William H. Shea, Jr. William H. Shea, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer |
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
By: BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY,
as General Partner
By: /s/ Stephen C. Muther Stephen C. Muther Senior VP Admin., General Counsel and Secretary |
Exhibit 10.11
CONFORMED COPY
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
UNIT OPTION AND DISTRIBUTION EQUIVALENT PLAN
Amended and Restated
as of April 24, 2002
UNIT OPTION AND DISTRIBUTION EQUIVALENT PLAN
1. Purpose
The Unit Option and Distribution Equivalent Plan (the "Plan") of Buckeye Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), is designed to assist the Partnership, Buckeye Pipe Line Company, the Partnership's general partner (the "General Partner"), and Affiliates of the Partnership and the General Partner in attracting and retaining employees of outstanding competence and to enable selected officers and key employees of the Partnership, the General Partner and Affiliates to acquire or increase ownership interests in the Partnership on a basis that will encourage them to perform at increasing levels of effectiveness and to use their best efforts to promote the growth and profitability of the Partnership. Consistent with these objectives, the Plan authorizes the granting of options (the "Options") to acquire limited partnership interests in the Partnership represented by units (the "Units") to selected officers and key employees (the "Optionees") pursuant to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. As used herein, the terms "Affiliate" and "Affiliates" refer to any domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with either the Partnership or the General Partner. For purposes of this Plan, Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company shall be considered an Affiliate of the General Partner.
2. Effective Date of the Plan.
Effective Date; Unitholder Approval. The Plan became effective April 25, 1991 (the "Effective Date") and was approved on October 22, 1991, at a special meeting of the holders of Units (the "Unitholders") by a majority of the Unitholders then entitled to vote in person or by proxy at such meeting.
3. Administration.
(a) Administration by Committee. The Plan shall be administered by either the Board of Directors of the General Partner (the "Board"), or a committee of the Board consisting of at least two (2) members of the Board (the "Committee"), provided that no member of the Board, if the Board is then administering the Plan, or member of the Committee, if the Committee is then administering the Plan, within the one (1) year period preceding the later of the Effective Date or such member's appointment to the Board or the Committee, received an Option under the Plan or an option or similar award under any other Partnership plan or plan of an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), of the Partnership where any such award was made on a discretionary basis. Any member of the Board or Committee administering the Plan who does not satisfy the foregoing requirement shall not serve in any capacity in administering the Plan until one year has elapsed from the date such option or award was granted. For purposes of the Plan, the term "Committee," as used hereinafter, shall refer to the Board if the Board has not appointed the Committee to administer the Plan. The Committee shall have and exercise all of the powers and authority granted to it by the provisions of the Plan. Members of the Committee shall serve, and may be removed, at the pleasure of the Board.
(b) Quorum. For purposes of administration of the Plan, a majority of the members of the Committee eligible to serve as such shall constitute a quorum, and any action taken by a majority of the members of the Committee present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, or acts approved in writing by a majority of such members of the Committee, shall be the acts of the Committee.
(c) Committee Power. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority (i) to decide when Options will be granted under the Plan, (ii) to select Optionees under the Plan, (iii) to determine which Optionees may be entitled to the benefits of the General Partner's Unit Option Loan Program adopted as of the Effective Date (the "Loan Program"), and (iv) to determine the number of Units to be covered by each Option, the price at which such Units may be purchased and any other terms and conditions of such Option, including the applicability of the Distribution Equivalent feature described in Section 7. The Board or the Committee may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the General Partner to do one or both of the following: (1) designate the Optionees, and (2) determine the number of Options to be received by such Optionees; provided, however, that the resolution so authorizing such officer or officers shall specify the total number of Options such officer or officers may so award. The Board or the Committee may not authorize an officer to designate himself or herself as a recipient of any such Options.
(d) Plan Interpretation. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority to interpret the Plan and any option agreements evidencing Options granted hereunder (the "Option Agreements"), to issue rules for administering the Plan, to change, alter, amend or rescind such rules, and to make all other determinations necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Committee pursuant to this Section 3 shall be final and conclusive. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action, determination or omission taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Option granted hereunder.
4. Units Subject to Options.
(a) Number, Source and Use of Units. The equity securities to
be subject to Options granted under the Plan shall be limited
partnership interests in the Partnership represented by Units.
The aggregate number of Units which may be issued under Options
granted pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed 720,000 (giving
effect to the Unit split effective in January 1998), subject to
further adjustment as provided in Sections 4(b) and 8(b) of the
Plan. If an Option, or any portion thereof, expires, terminates
or is surrendered or canceled for any reason (including pursuant
to a cancellation and new grant of Options pursuant to
Section 10) without the full number of Units being issued to the
Optionee, the Units subject to such expired, terminated,
surrendered or canceled portion of the Option shall be available
for subsequent Option grants under this Plan. Units which are
the subject of Options may be previously issued and outstanding
Units reacquired by the Partnership or certain of its Affiliates
and held in treasury, or may be authorized but unissued Units, or
may be partly of each.
(b) Adjustment Provisions. In the event that (i) any change
is made to the Units issuable under the Plan pursuant to
Section 8 or otherwise, or (ii) the Partnership makes any
distribution of cash, Units, assets or other property to
Unitholders which result from the sale or disposition of a major
asset or separate operating division of the Partnership or any
other extraordinary event and, in the judgment of the Committee,
such change or distribution would significantly dilute the rights
of Optionees hereunder then, subject to the provisions of
Section 8 of the Plan, the Committee may make appropriate
adjustments in the maximum number of Units issuable under the
Plan to reflect the effect of such change or distribution upon
the Partnership's capital structure, and may make appropriate
adjustments to the number of Units and the purchase price subject
to each outstanding Option. The adjustments determined by the
Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(c) Further Authorization of Units; Conditional Option Grants. Options may be granted under this Plan with respect to Units in excess of the number specified in Section 4(a) hereof, provided that (i) an amendment to increase such maximum number of Units is adopted by the Committee prior to the initial grant of any such Options and such amendment, if material in amount, is thereafter submitted and approved by a majority of the Unitholders, and (ii) each Option so granted is not to become exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time prior to obtaining required approval.
5. Eligibility
The persons who shall be eligible to receive Options pursuant to the Plan shall be such officers and key employees of the Partnership, the General Partner, or any Affiliate who can make a meaningful contribution to the Partnership's success, as determined by the Committee from time to time. Effective July 14, 1998, the following individuals shall not be eligible to receive further grants of Options under the Plan, nor shall they receive material increases in benefits with respect to previously granted Options as a result of Plan amendments that become effective that date: (1) a member of the Board of Directors; (2) an officer of the General Partner; or (3) a person determined by resolution to be an "insider" of the Partnership, General Partner or any Affiliate.
6. Options.
(a) Grant of Options. Subject to the provisions of Section 4, Options may be granted at any time and from time to time as may be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of Options granted and the number of Units subject to such Options. The grant of Options under the Plan shall in no way affect the Partnership's or the General Partner's right to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change the Partnership's capital or business structure, nor shall the grant of any Option affect the Partnership's or the General Partner's right to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer any part of the Partnership's business or assets.
(b) Nature of Options. Options granted pursuant to the Plan
shall be authorized by the Committee and shall be non-statutory
options which are not intended to meet the requirements of
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code").
(c) Terms and Conditions of Options. Each Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement between the Partnership and the Optionee in such form or forms as the Committee, from time to time, shall prescribe, which agreements need not be identical to each other but shall comply, inter alia, with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 6(c). In addition, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, include in any Option Agreement other terms, conditions and provisions that are not inconsistent with the express provisions of the Plan.
(i) Option Price. The price at which each Unit may be purchased pursuant to an Option granted under the Plan shall be not less than 100% of the higher of the "fair market value" for each such Unit (A) on the date the Committee approves the grant of such Option (the "Date of Grant"), or (B) on a future date if such is fixed on the Date of Grant by the Committee. The "fair market value" of the Units on any date shall be the mean between the high and the low prices of the Units on such date on the New York Stock Exchange (or the principal market in which the Units are traded, if the Units are not listed on that Exchange on such date), or if the Units were not traded on such date, the mean between the high and the low prices of the Units on the next preceding trading day during which the Units were traded. Anything contained in this subsection (i) to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the number of Units subject to any Option is adjusted pursuant to 4(b) or 8(b) hereof, a corresponding adjustment shall be made in the price at which the Units subject to such Option may be purchased thereafter.
(ii) Duration of Options. An Option (or portion thereof) granted under the Plan shall expire and all rights to purchase Units pursuant to the Option (or portion thereof) shall cease at the end of the day which is seven years following the date such Option (or portion thereof) became exercisable for the first time, or such lesser period as may be prescribed by the Committee and specified in the Option Agreement (the "Expiration Date").
(iii) Vesting of Options. The Units subject to each option granted hereunder may only be purchased to the extent that the Optionee is vested in such Option. An Optionee shall vest separately in each Option granted hereunder in accordance with a schedule determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, which will be appended to the Option Agreement. In the absence of any special circumstances, including the circumstances described in Sections 8 and 13 of the Plan or the terms of any vesting schedule contained in any Option Agreement which differ from the schedule below, the Committee will cause the Options to vest in accordance with the following schedule:
Number of anniversaries the Optionee has remained in the employ of the Partnership,
the General Partner or any Affiliate Extent to which the Optionee following the Date of the Grant is Vested Under three............................................. 0% Three or more..........................................100% |
At the time an Option (or portion thereof) becomes vested in accordance with the foregoing schedule, the Option (or such portion) shall remain exercisable for a period of seven (7) years following the date the Option (or such portion) became vested. Anything contained in this subsection (iii) to the contrary notwithstanding, an Optionee shall become fully (100%) vested in each of his or her Options upon (A) his or her termination of employment with the Partnership, the General Partner or an Affiliate for reasons of death, Disability or Retirement (as such terms are defined in Section 13); (B) his or her termination of employment by the Partnership, the General Partner or an Affiliate within one year after the merger of the Partnership into, consolidation of the Partnership with, or sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Partnership's assets to, another entity, or within one year after the acquisition of effective voting control of the Partnership by any individual or entity or by any individuals or entities acting in concert (a good faith determination by the Committee that such control has been acquired shall be final and conclusive), in any such case for a reason other than discharge for cause; (C) a determination by the Committee in its sole discretion that acceleration of the Option vesting schedule would be desirable for the Partnership; or (D) such Options becoming vested pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.
(iv)Unit Retention Requirement. The Committee may require, as a term of an Option Agreement, that the Optionee accumulate and retain a minimum number of Units, as specified by the Committee in its discretion ("Unit Retention Requirement"). The Committee shall permit an Optionee to satisfy the Unit Retention Requirement over a prescribed period of at least five years. An Optionee who fails to comply with the Unit Retention Requirement after expiration of the prescribed period shall not be eligible to receive further grants of Options under the Plan.
(d) Purchase of Units Pursuant to Options. An Optionee may
purchase Units subject to the vested portion of an Option in
whole at any time, or in part from time to time, by delivering to
the Secretary of the General Partner written notice specifying
the number of Units with respect to which the Option is being
exercised, together with payment in full of the purchase price of
such Units plus any applicable federal, state or local taxes for
which the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate has a
withholding obligation in connection with such purchase. Such
payment shall be payable to the Partnership in full (i) in cash,
(ii) with the proceeds of a promissory note payable by the
Optionee to the General Partner, but only in accordance with the
provisions of, and from a person otherwise eligible under, the
Loan Program, or any successor program as in effect from time to
time, (A) in a principal amount of up to 95% of the payment due
upon the purchase of Units subject to the Option, or such
applicable lower percentage as may be specified by the Committee
pursuant to the Loan Program, and (B) bearing interest at a rate
not less than the applicable federal rate prescribed by
Section 1274 of the Code, or any successor provision, or such
higher rate as may be specified by the Committee pursuant to the
Loan Program, and (iii) through any combination of (i) and (ii)
above. During the lifetime of the Optionee, the Option shall be
exercised only by the Optionee and shall not be assignable or
transferable by the Optionee other than (1) by will, (2) by the
laws of descent and distribution, (3) pursuant to the terms of
the Plan, or (4) pursuant to the terms of a qualified domestic
relations order.
(e) Unitholder Rights. An Optionee shall have none of the rights of a Unitholder with respect to any Units issuable pursuant to an Option under the Plan until such Optionee shall have been issued such Units upon the exercise or partial exercise of such Option.
(f) Compliance with Rule 16b-3. The Committee may impose such conditions on the exercise of an Option as may be necessary to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), or any other comparable provisions in effect at the time.
7. Distribution Equivalents.
(a) Distribution Equivalents. The Committee may grant, in its discretion and subject to such conditions, if any, as it shall determine, certain Options with a feature which would allow Optionees to accumulate accrued credit balances as adjusted in subsection (c) (the "Distribution Equivalents"). Only those Options which have been specifically awarded with Distribution Equivalents, as evidenced by the terms of the Option Agreement relating to such Option, shall be deemed to have the Distribution Equivalent feature. The Partnership shall maintain records with respect to each Option granted to an Optionee with Distribution Equivalents, calculated in accordance with subsection (b) (the "Distribution Equivalent Account").
(b) Calculation of Distribution Equivalents. From the date an
Option is granted with a Distribution Equivalent feature until
the earlier of (i) the date in which the Option (or portion
thereof) becomes exercisable in accordance with Section 6(c) or
8, or (ii) the date of the Optionee's termination of employment
for any reason including death, Disability or Retirement, as such
terms are defined as in Section 13, the Partnership shall record
in each Distribution Equivalent Account on the date of each
regular quarterly Partnership distribution, an amount equal to
(x) the Partnership's per Unit regular quarterly distribution as
declared from time to time by the Board, multiplied by (y) the
number of Units subject to such Option that have not vested. No
interest shall be payable or credited to the balance in any
Distribution Equivalent Account. Any special per Unit
distributions declared by the Board may be credited to the
Distribution Equivalent Accounts only upon specific Committee
approval.
(c) Use of Distribution Equivalents. As a term of an Option Agreement, the Committee may condition the Optionee's receipt of the Distribution Equivalent Account value upon the achievement of such corporate performance goals as the Committee may establish in its discretion. At the end of the period described in subsection (b), the Committee shall (i) adjust the accumulated Distribution Equivalents to reflect the achievement of such performance goals and (ii) distribute to each Optionee any Distribution Equivalents, as adjusted, in cash.
8. Adjustments Upon Extraordinary Transactions or Changes in Partnership Control.
(a) Extraordinary Transaction. In the event one or more of the following transactions (an "Extraordinary Transaction"):
(1) the Unitholders approve a merger or consolidation of the Partnership with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Unitholders retaining at least 75% of the total equity interest of the surviving entity, as represented by the percentage of Units or equity securities of the Partnership or such surviving entity held by the Unitholders immediately after such merger or consolidation;
(2) a plan of complete dissolution of the Partnership is adopted or the Unitholders approve an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Partnership (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all the Partnership's assets; or
(3) the General Partner is removed, or any person or entity except one or more of the stockholders, as of the date hereof, of Glenmoor, Ltd. ("Glenmoor") or any employee benefit plan of the General Partner (or of any Affiliate or any person or entity organized, appointed or established by the General Partner for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan), together with all Affiliates of such person or entity, becomes, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner, or the holder of proxies, in the aggregate of 51% or more of the general partnership interests of the Partnership,
then (i) each Option at the time outstanding under the Plan and not then otherwise fully exercisable shall, during the ten (10) business day period immediately prior to the specified effective date for the Extraordinary Transaction, become fully exercisable for up to the total number of Units purchasable or issuable thereunder and may be exercised for all or any portion of the Units for which the Option is so accelerated, (ii) all Units issuable upon the exercise of Options under this Section 8(a) of the Plan shall be delivered to the Optionee immediately prior to the specified effective date for the Extraordinary Transaction, and (iii) all accumulated Distribution Equivalents, without adjustment pursuant to Section 7(c), shall be paid to the Optionee in cash. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Extraordinary Transaction is abandoned, (A) any Units not purchased upon exercise of such Option shall continue to be available for purchase in accordance with the other provisions of the Plan, and (B) to the extent that any Option not exercised prior to such amendment shall have vested solely by operation of this Section 8, such vesting shall be deemed annulled, and the vesting schedule set forth in Section 6(c), or in the Option Agreement if different from the vesting schedule in Section 6(c), shall be reinstituted as of the date of such abandonment.
In no event shall any such acceleration in connection with an Extraordinary Transaction occur if the terms of the agreement governing the Extraordinary Transaction require, as a condition to consummation, that the outstanding Options shall either be assumed by the successor entity, or its Affiliate, or be replaced with a comparable option or right to purchase or receive securities of the successor entity or Affiliate. The determination of such comparability shall be made by the Committee, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. Upon consummation of an Extraordinary Transaction, all outstanding Options under the Plan shall, to the extent not previously exercised or assumed by the successor entity or its Affiliate, terminate.
Notwithstanding the above, in the event of any Extraordinary Transaction, the Committee shall have the discretion to cancel outstanding Options in whole or in part, subject to such conditions as the Committee may determine, upon payment to Optionees with respect to each Option then exercisable an amount in cash equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value (at the effective date of such Extraordinary Transaction) of the consideration the Optionee would have received in the Extraordinary Transaction if the Option had been exercised immediately prior to the effective date of such Extraordinary Transaction and (ii) the aggregate exercise price of such Option.
(b) If any change is made to the Units issuable under the Plan by reason of an Extraordinary Transaction that does not result in the termination of all outstanding Options, the Committee may adjust the maximum number of Units issuable under the Plan, the number of Units subject to Options, and the Option price of any outstanding Options.
9. Valuation.
For purposes of the Plan, the term "fair market value," when used in connection with a discussion concerning the value of a Unit, shall represent the value described in Section 6(c)(i). When used in connection with a discussion concerning the value of a right, an asset or other property, other than a Unit, the term "fair market value" shall mean, on any relevant date, the market value of such asset, as determined by the Committee in accordance with such method of valuation as the Committee shall determine to be reasonable and appropriate.
10. Cancellation and New Grant of Awards.
The Committee shall have the authority to effect, at any time and from time to time, with the consent of the affected Optionees, the cancellation of any or all outstanding Options under the Plan and to grant in substitution therefor new Options under the Plan covering the same or different number and class of Units but having a purchase price per Unit not less than fair market value of a Unit on the new Date of Grant. The Committee may permit the voluntary surrender of all or a portion of any Option to be conditioned upon the granting to the Optionee under the Plan of a new Option for the same or a different number of Units as the Option surrendered, or may require such voluntary surrender as a condition precedent to a grant of a new Option to such Optionee. Such new Option shall be exercisable at the price, during the period, and in accordance with any other terms or conditions specified by the Committee at the time the new Option is granted, all determined in accordance with the provisions of the Plan without regard to the price, period of exercise, or any other terms or conditions of the Options surrendered.
11. Term of Plan.
Unless the Plan is sooner terminated in accordance with
Section 8 or by the Committee, no further Options shall be
granted under the Plan after the earlier of (i) the twentieth
(20th) anniversary of the Effective Date, or (ii) the date on
which all Units available for issuance under the Plan have been
issued.
12. Amendment of the Plan and Awards.
The Committee shall have complete and exclusive power and
authority to terminate or amend the Plan and the Committee may
amend outstanding Options issued under the Plan in any or all
aspects whatsoever not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
provided, however, that no such termination or amendment shall
adversely affect the rights of an Optionee with respect to
Options at the time outstanding under the Plan unless the
Optionee consents to such amendment; and provided, further, that
the Committee shall not, without the approval of the Unitholders
amend the Plan to (i) materially increase the maximum number of
Units which may be issued under the Plan, except for permissible
adjustments under Section 4(b), (ii) materially increase the
benefits accruing to individuals who participate in the Plan, or
(iii) materially modify the eligibility requirements for the
grant of Options under the Plan.
13. Treatment of Options Upon Optionee's Termination of Employment.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the following rules shall apply in the event of an Optionee's termination of employment with the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate:
(a) Termination for Cause; Voluntary Termination Without
Consent. In the event of an Optionee's termination of employment
with the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate either
(i) for cause or (ii) voluntarily on the part of the Optionee and
without the written consent of his or her employer, any and all
Option(s) held by such person shall immediately terminate.
(b) Termination in Special Circumstances. In the event of an
Optionee's termination of employment with the Partnership, the
General Partner or any Affiliate under circumstances other than
those specified in subsection (a) hereof and for reasons other
than death, Disability or Retirement (as defined in
subsection (d) hereof), such Option shall terminate on the date
which is 90 days from the date of such termination of employment
or on its Expiration Date, whichever shall first occur; provided,
however, that if the Optionee is a former officer of the
Partnership subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act who terminates
employment pursuant to this subsection (b), his or her Options
shall terminate on (i) the date which is the later of (A) 90 days
from the date of such termination of employment, or (B) six
months and ten days after such person's last purchase or sale,
for purposes of Section 16, of Units or any derivative security
thereto prior to his or her ceasing to be such an officer, or
(ii) their Expiration Date, whichever shall first occur.
(c) Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of an
Optionee (i) while he or she is employed by the Partnership, the
General Partner or any Affiliate, or (ii) if subsections (b) or
(d) hereof is applicable, during the respective periods of time
specified therein following his or her termination of employment,
such Option shall become fully exercisable, but shall terminate
on the first anniversary of the Optionee's death, Disability or
Retirement (as such terms are defined in subsection (d) hereof)
or on its Expiration Date, whichever shall first occur.
(d) Disability or Retirement of Optionee. In the event of the Optionee's termination of employment with the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate for reasons of the inability, due to mental or physical infirmity, of the Optionee to discharge the regular responsibilities and duties of his or her employment with the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate, as the case may be ("Disability"), or for reasons of termination of employment other than discharge for cause (i) at or after age 65, or (ii) before age 65 provided the Optionee has at the time of such termination satisfied the age and vesting requirements for normal or early retirement pursuant to the terms of any "defined benefit plan" (as such term is defined in Section 3(35) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor provision) maintained by the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate in which the Optionee participates, or (iii) if the Optionee does not participate at the time of such termination in such a "defined benefit plan," at or after age 55 and before age 65 provided the Optionee has been employed by the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate for at least five full years (any of which terminations in clauses (i)-(iii) above shall constitute "Retirement"), such Option shall become fully exercisable, but shall terminate on the date which is a number of years after the date of such termination of employment as shall be fixed by the Committee or on its Expiration Date, whichever shall first occur.
(e) Limitations of Option Acceleration Upon Termination of Employment of Optionee. Anything contained in this Section 13 to the contrary notwithstanding, an Option may only be exercised following the Optionee's termination of employment with the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate for reasons other than death, Disability or Retirement if, and to the extent that, such Option was exercisable immediately prior to such termination of employment.
(f) Certain Transfers of Employment. An Optionee's transfer of employment between or among the Partnership, the General Partner and an Affiliate or between or among Affiliates of the Partnership, shall not constitute a termination of employment and the Committee shall determine in each case whether an authorized leave of absence for military service or otherwise shall constitute a termination of employment.
14. Issuance of Units; Restrictions.
(a) Subject to the conditions and restrictions provided in
this Section 14, the Partnership shall, within twenty (20)
business days after an Option has been duly exercised in whole or
in part, deliver to the person who exercised the Option a
certificate, registered in the name of such person, for the
number of Units with respect to which the Option has been
exercised. The Partnership may legend any certificate issued
hereunder to reflect any restrictions provided for in this
Section 14.
(b) Unless the Units subject to Options granted under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), (and, in the case of any Optionee who may be deemed an Affiliate of the Partnership, such Units have been registered under the 1933 Act for resale by such Optionee), or the Partnership has determined that an exemption from registration is available, the Partnership may require prior to and as a condition of the issuance of any Units that the person exercising an Option hereunder furnish the Partnership with a written representation in a form prescribed by the Committee to the effect that such person is acquiring said Units solely with a view to investment for his or her own account and not with a view to the resale or distribution of all or any part thereof, and that such person will not dispose of any of such Units otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144 under the 1933 Act unless and until either the Units are registered under the 1933 Act or the Partnership is satisfied that an exemption from such registration is available.
(c) Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Partnership shall not be obligated to sell or issue any Units under the Plan unless and until the Partnership is satisfied that such sale or issuance complies with (i) all applicable requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (or the governing body of the principal market in which such Units are traded, if such Units are not then listed on such Exchange), (ii) all applicable provisions of the 1933 Act, and (iii) all other laws or regulations by which the Partnership is bound or to which the Partnership is subject.
15. General Provisions.
(a) No Right to Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan or any Option Agreement shall confer, and no grant of an Option shall be construed as conferring, upon any Optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate or to interfere in any way with the right of the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate to terminate his or her employment at any time or increase or decrease his or her compensation from the rate in effect at the Date of Grant.
(b) No Limit on Other Compensatory Arrangements. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements (which may include arrangements which relate to Options under the Plan), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
Exhibit 10.12
CONFORMED COPY
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY
UNIT OPTION LOAN PROGRAM
Adopted on April 24, 1991
(Amended and Restated as of April 24, 2002)
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY
UNIT OPTION LOAN PROGRAM
1. Purpose.
The purpose of the Unit Option Loan Program (the "Loan Program") is to assist in the exercise of options ("Options") granted under the Buckeye Partners, L.P. (the "Partnership") Unit Option and Distribution Equivalent Plan (the "Plan"). Consistent with this purpose, the Loan Program authorizes Buckeye Pipe Line Company, the Partnership's general partner (the "General Partner"), to make loans to Optionees on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Plan shall have the same meaning herein as in the Plan.
2. Administration.
The Loan Program shall be administered by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the General Partner or a committee thereof (the "Committee"). Subject to the express provisions of the Loan Program, the Board or the Committee, as the case may be, shall have exclusive power to determine those individuals who shall be eligible to participate in the Loan Program and the terms and conditions to which loans under the Loan Program (the "Loans") may be subject. Subject again to the express provisions of the Loan Program, the Board or the Committee, as the case may be, shall have full and final authority to interpret the Loan Program and establish, adopt or revise such rules and regulations and to make all determinations relating to the Loan Program as it may, from time to time, deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Loan Program. The Board's or the Committee's interpretation of the Loan Program and all actions and decisions of the Board or the Committee with respect to the Loan Program shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties.
3. Options For Which Loan Program is Available.
The Loan Program may be available in connection with the
exercise by designated Eligible Participants (as defined in
Section 4 hereof) of certain Options granted under the Plan.
4. Eligible Participants.
"Eligible Participants" shall be designated employees of the Partnership, the General Partner and Affiliates who are Participants in the Plan, as such Eligible Participants may be determined from time to time by the Board or the Committee. The term "Employee" shall mean any person (including any officer) employed by the Partnership, the General Partner or Affiliates on a full-time salaried basis. For purposes of the Plan, Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company shall be considered an Affiliate of the General Partner. The term "Participant" shall mean an Eligible Participant who obtains a Loan pursuant to this Loan Program.
5. Terms and Conditions of Loans.
Each Loan shall be evidenced by a written secured promissory note (a "Note") from the Participant payable to the order of the General Partner in such form as shall comply with the applicable terms and conditions of the Loan Program. In addition, any Note may include or contain other terms and conditions that are not consistent with the provisions of the Loan Program.
(a) Timing and Amount of Loan. Except as otherwise provided in the last sentence of this subsection (a), an Eligible Participant may obtain a Loan only at the time of, and in connection with, the exercise of an Option for which the Loan Program is available, as described in Section 3 hereof. An Eligible Participant may borrow up to 95% of the purchase price of the Units (net of any Distribution Equivalents to which the Eligible Participant may be entitled in respect of such Option) with respect to which the Option is being exercised and up to 100% of the applicable federal, state or local taxes for which the Partnership, the General Partner, or any Affiliate has a withholding obligation in connection with such exercise, and the proceeds of the Loan may be used only for such purposes. An Eligible Participant may obtain a Loan at a time subsequent to the time of exercise of an Option for the purpose of satisfying any applicable taxes for which there is a withholding obligation which arises at such subsequent time rather than at the time of exercise.
(b) Interest Rate and Payments. Each Note shall accrue and bear interest compounded on each June 30 and December 31 at the 5- year Treasury Bond rate plus 200 basis points, compounded semiannually. Interest shall be payable at the same time as the principal of the Note shall be payable.
(c) Term of Loan. Each Loan shall become due and payable upon the first to occur of any of the following events:
(i) Upon the completion of the period specified for repayment by the Participant as of the date of the Loan, which date, as determined by the Participant, may be as of a date specified from six (6) months to sixty (60) months from the date of the Loan;
(ii) failure of the Participant to maintain a margin of collateral pledged with the General Partner, consisting of the Units, the purchase of which is being financed by the Loan to the Participant (or other collateral acceptable to the chief financial officer of the General Partner), sufficient to cause the Loan (including the accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the end of the most recent calendar quarter of a year) not to exceed 95% of the value of the pledged collateral, or such other ratio of the Loan and the interest thereon to the value of the collateral as may be required by any law, rule or regulation of the United States, any state, or any federal or state board, commission, agency or service;
(iii) the voluntary bankruptcy or insolvency of the Partnership (or admission thereof by the Participant), or the seeking of relief by the Partnership under a statute for the relief of debtors, or the failure of the Participant promptly to cause the discharge of a creditor action brought against the Participant under the Bankruptcy Code or other bankruptcy or insolvency law;
(iv) thirty (30) days after the termination of the employment of the Participant as an employee of the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate, unless the Board or the Committee authorizes the extension of such thirty (30) day period; provided, however, that (a) transfer of employment of an employee between or among the Partnership, the General Partner and an Affiliate or between or among Affiliates of the Partnership shall not constitute a termination of employment, (b) the Board or the Committee may determine whether a leave of absence is for the purpose of the Loan a termination of employment, and (c) in the event of the death of a Participant while employed the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate, the personal representative of the Participant will be afforded a period of time (to be specified in the Note) in which to assume the obligations provided for in the Note, and upon such assumption the payment date of the Loan will not be accelerated by reason of the death of the Participant; or
(v) failure of the Participant to observe or perform any other provision of the Note applicable to it.
(d) Pledge of Units. The Units purchased upon exercise of the Option with respect to which the Loan is made shall be pledged by the Participant to the General Partner in order to secure the payment of the principal of and interest on the Loan including any taxes required to be withheld by the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate. The Participant shall be entitled to all distributions which may be paid on the Units pledged (except that distributions payable in Units of the Partnership shall be retained by the Partnership and pledged to secure the Loan) and to any voting rights with respect to such Units. The Partnership may place a legend on any Unit certificate to reflect any restrictions provided for in this Loan Program.
(e) Prepayment. The Loan may be prepaid in whole or in part by the Participant at any time and pledged Units shall be released from pledge in approximate proportion to the amount of the Loan prepaid except to the extent that the retention of Units by the General Partner is necessary to maintain the required ratio of the value of the pledged Units to the unpaid amount of the Loan and the accrued interest thereon.
(f) Default. In the event the Participant shall fail to pay any amount due under the terms of the Note, including any amount becoming due and payable by acceleration of its payment date, the General Partner upon giving notice to the Participant may sell the pledged Units (or other pledged collateral) and shall be entitled to deduct from the proceeds thereof the sum of its costs and expenses of enforcing payment of the Note and liquidation of the collateral, the accrued and unpaid interest on the Note and the unpaid principal of the Note before remitting the balance to the Participant. In the event the liquidation of the pledged collateral shall not provide funds sufficient to pay the costs and expenses of enforcing payment of the Note and the accrued and unpaid interest on and the entire unpaid principal of the Note, the Participant shall be liable to the General Partner for the amount of such deficiency.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) Governmental Regulations. The obligation of the General Partner to make Loans to certain Eligible Participants, and each Loan made to an Eligible Participant, shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and to any required approvals by governmental agencies.
(b) No Employment Rights. Neither this Loan Program nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as conferring on any Employee any right to continue in the employ of the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate or affect in any way the right of the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of any Employee at any time.
(c) Nontransferability. A Participant's rights and interests under the Loan Program may not be assigned, pledged or transferred except that in the event of the death of a Participant, while an employee, the Participant's personal representative may assume and succeed to the rights and obligations of the Participant under any Loan outstanding.
(d) Applicable Law. The Loan Program and all other governing documents, agreements and instruments and all actions taken hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
7. Amendment and Termination.
The Board or the Committee may at any time terminate the Loan
Program. The Board or Committee may at any time, or from time to
time, amend or suspend and, if suspended reinstate, the Loan
Program in whole or in part. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Loan Program shall continue in effect to the extent necessary to
settle all matters relating to Loans made prior to any such
termination or suspension.
BUCKEYE PIPE LINE COMPANY
UNIT OPTION LOAN PROGRAM AND PROMISSORY NOTES
SUMMARY OF TERMS AND PROCEDURE
Eligible Participants
In general, specified officers or key employees of Buckeye Partners, L.P. (the "Partnership"), Buckeye Pipe Line Company, the Partnership's general partner (the "General Partner"), or any affiliate of the Partnership or the General Partner ("Affiliate"), including Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company, who are Optionees under the Partnership's Unit Option and Distribution Equivalent Plan.
Time of Participation and Options to Which Applicable
A loan can be obtained at the time of exercise for certain specified Options.
Procedure to Obtain a Unit Option Loan and Amount of Loan
Notify Secretary of the General Partner of intention to exercise a specified Option, as of a specified date, and request a loan for (1) a specified dollar amount or percentage (not in excess of 95%) of the Option exercise price (net of any Distribution Equivalents in respect of such Option) and (2) a specified dollar amount or percentage (up to 100%) of any taxes required to be withheld. The loan will be evidenced by a promissory note or notes ("Note" or "Notes") executed and delivered to the General Partner by the Optionee ("Borrower") and will be secured by the pledge to the General Partner of the Units being purchased. In the case of an officer subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the taxes required to be withheld will be determined, and any loan of the amount of such taxes will be made, as of the date of exercise of the Option or as of a subsequent date, if applicable.
Interest Rate
Interest rate will be the 5-year Treasury Bond rate plus 200 basis points, as of the date of the loan.
Interest Payments
Interest is compounded semiannually and is payable when all or any part of the principal of the Note is payable.
Required Collateral
If the principal amount of the Note and its accrued and unpaid interest through the end of the preceding calendar quarter exceed 95% of the market value of the pledged Units of the Partnership, the General Partner may require the Borrower to remedy the deficiency within 48 hours (not including hours of a day not a business day) by providing additional collateral of a kind acceptable to the General Partner or by paying part of the unpaid principal and accrued interest. If additional collateral (or a partial payment) is not timely provided, the General Partner may liquidate the Note by selling the pledged Units and applying the proceeds to pay the liquidation expenses, the accrued and unpaid interest on the Note, and the unpaid principal of the Note. Any excess of proceeds would be paid to the Borrower, and any deficiency in proceeds would be an obligation of the Borrower to the General Partner.
Payment of Principal
The principal amount of the Note is required to be paid:
(1) Six (6) months to sixty (60) months after the date of the Note, as specified by the Participant at the time the Note is issued.
(2) Upon the occurrence of an "Acceleration Event." The
Acceleration Events are (i) failure to maintain the required
ratio of collateral value to loan amount, (ii) bankruptcy or
insolvency of the Borrower, or (iii) the expiration of thirty
(30) days after termination of employment of the Borrower by the
General Partner, the Partnership or any Affiliate, unless a
longer period is approved by the Board of Directors of the
General Partner or a committee thereof administering the Plan
("Committee"); provided, however, that (A) a transfer of
employment between or among the Partnership, the General Partner
or any Affiliate or between or among Affiliates of the
Partnership shall not constitute a termination of employment, (B)
the Board or the Committee shall determine whether a leave of
absence represents a termination of employment, and (C) the
Borrower's personal representative will be afforded a period of
time to assume the obligations of the Note following the
Borrower's termination of employment due to death.
Death of the Borrower while employed will not be an Acceleration Event, if the Borrower's personal representative assumes the Note obligations within 60 days after the Borrower's death.
Optional Prepayment
The Note can be prepaid in whole or in part at any time and a portion of the pledged Units will be released which is equivalent to the portion of the indebtedness being prepaid, unless the market value of the remaining pledged Units will not exceed 95% of the unpaid indebtedness. Optional prepayments must be in an amount sufficient to pay $1,000 of principal and the interest accrued thereon, unless the Notes are being prepaid in full or a deficiency in collateral is being remedied.
Reports and Notices
Each Borrower will be furnished quarterly with a statement showing the accrued interest for the preceding calendar quarter, the outstanding balance of the Notes, the total accrued and unpaid interest as of such date, and the market price for the Units at which a request would be made on the Borrower to furnish additional collateral. Advance notice will also be given to each Borrower of the date of maturity of the Notes. If necessary, notice will be given of the need for additional collateral or of an Acceleration Event.
Supplements to Notes
In the case of an officer or director subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the original Note executed by the Borrower may be supplemented six months after its issuance, or a second Note may be executed by the Borrower, to provide for financing of withholding taxes computed at such time and required to be withheld by the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate in connection with the exercise of an Option. In addition, the General Partner may require any Note to be supplemented, if necessary, to make the Note conform to any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, including, if required, securing the Note by collateral having a greater value in relation to the unpaid principal amount of, and accrued interest on, the Note than previously required by the terms of the Note.
Rights to Distributions
All distributions on the pledged Units will be paid to the Borrower, except that distributions payable in additional Units will be added to each Borrower's pledged Units. Each Borrower will be entitled to vote the Borrower's pledged Units.
Amendment and Termination
The Program is subject to amendment, suspension or termination by the General Partner at any time.
Governing Documents
This Summary is not intended to be a complete description of the Unit Option Loan Program or the Notes. Reference is made to such documents for additional and more complete information. In the event of any conflict or discrepancy between this Summary and the terms of the Program or the Notes, the provisions of the Program or the Notes will govern.
Dated: April 25, 1991 (Amended and restated as of April 24, 2002)